{"id":222667,"date":"2026-03-16T21:40:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T21:40:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/222667\/"},"modified":"2026-03-16T21:40:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T21:40:09","slug":"precious-achiuwa-says-he-absolutely-would-like-to-remain-in-sacramento","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/222667\/","title":{"rendered":"Precious Achiuwa says he “absolutely” would like to remain in Sacramento"},"content":{"rendered":"

After just seven regular-season games in their 2025-26 season, the Sacramento Kings elected to add some help via the free agent market. Surprisingly to many people, given his 20.5 minutes per game role with the New York Knicks last season, Precious Achiuwa was still without a team.<\/p>\n

The 26-year-old forward agreed to a one-year deal with Sacramento, his fourth organization since being drafted 20th overall out of Memphis in the 2020 NBA Draft. With minimal time to adjust to his new surroundings, schemes, teammates, and coaches, he already had earned the starting spot by his third game.<\/p>\n

The absence of Keegan Murray, who was dealing with a torn UCL at the time, left Kings\u2019 head coach Doug Christie with a desperate need for forward help. Achiuwa\u2019s 6\u20198\u2033 frame, along with a roughly 6\u20192.5\u2033 wingspan and impressive footwork on the perimiter filled their needs well.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s been a disappointing year for the Kings as a whole, Achiuwa has proven that he belongs in an NBA rotation. He\u2019s averaging career numbers with 9.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting an efficient 53.5 percent from the field. Converting 32.9 percent of his 1.2 three-point attempts per night has gone a long way as well.<\/p>\n

Following the trade deadline, the organization made a clear transition to prioritizing the growth of its young talents. Achiuwa may not cross fans\u2019 minds as someone who fits that, but he still has plenty of room to grow, as he has shown as of late.<\/p>\n

Over the last 13 games, he\u2019s tallied 16.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks on 59.8 percent shooting, including 40.9 percent (9\/22) from three. He\u2019s reached double-digits in 10 of those appearances and surpassed 20 in five. Following Sunday\u2019s 20 point, 11 rebound night, Achiuwa was asked if he would like to remain in California\u2019s capital beyond this season. He didn\u2019t hesitate in his repsonse.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely, I love Sacramento,\u201d he said<\/a>. \u201cThe city has embraced me. The team has embraced me, the organization, from the front office to my teammates and the coaching staff. I truly, truly love being here, and I hope, and I would really love to be here. I hope, once the offseason comes around, we\u2019ll be able to, you know, they will be willing to have me come back.\u201d<\/p>\n

It seems like Coach Christie plays a notable part in Achiuwa feeling that way as well. He mentioned Christie being just his second former NBA player running the show, with former Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway as his other experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, it\u2019s been amazing (playing for Christie),\u201d Achiuwa said. \u201cIt\u2019s been great just to learn a lot from him\u2026 (Christie) cares so much on a personal level. And I\u2019ve only had one coach before him, he\u2019s not just everything basketball, basketball, you know, he actually cares about how you\u2019re doing mentally, physically, family, all that type of stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, it\u2019s amazing to be around someone like that, and of course, on the basketball court. So, especially as an ex-player, I learned a lot from him. The only other time I played for an ex-player was Penny Hardaway in college, and I learned a lot from Penny, and I had a lot of success playing under Penny, so I probably would say I have a lot of success playing for people that actually played the game, ex-NBA players.\u201d<\/p>\n

That seems to be the most common positive mentioned with Christie, his ability to connect with players and understand what they are going through. Nobody can question his love for the game of basketball, the city of Sacramento, or the players\/coaches on his roster.<\/p>\n

Just moments after Achiuwa spoke highly of him, the Kings\u2019 head coach joked that he paid the forward to say those things before diving deeper into what he\u2019s enjoyed about having him on the squad.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s so coachable. He\u2019s a pleasure as a coach because he\u2019s listening. He wants to win. He\u2019s about team, all the right things, and he wants to win,\u201d Christie said<\/a>. \u201cSo he\u2019ll be upset, but then he lets it go, and the smiles back on his face. And every time I see him, he\u2019s the same, and that\u2019s an important thing for me, because I like the consistency of the human\u2026 our job can be stressful and all these different things, but just like as the person, part of it, like I got love for you, so don\u2019t take anything personal, like I\u2019m just coaching and that can get sideways. Sometimes it\u2019s just how it is, but that\u2019s nothing to do with you. So a lot of love for him to say that, because that is true. I care about these guys as people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Having been part of the best Sacramento team up to date, back in the early 2000\u2019s, Christie viewed their off-court connection and brotherhood as essential to their success.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy experience here, when we were really good, that was probably the one thread that helped everything, is because we had love for each other,\u201d he continued. \u201cAnd when you go out there, and you play that way, you play different\u2026 So it\u2019s good to hear that from him, but love the kid. Love how he goes about his business. And another one, (it\u2019s) truly an honor to coach these guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019ll be intriguing to see what Achiuwa gets offered on the open market this offseason and the direction that general manager Scott Perry elects to go. Assuming Murray and trade deadline addition De\u2019Andre Hunter are healthy and available headed into next season, what would Achiuwa\u2019s nightly opportunity look like? He\u2019s also surely caught the attention of other teams around the league and has already proven he could help a postseason roster.<\/p>\n

But his expressed desire to remain in Sacramento, even amidst their 18-51 season is a credit to Christie, Perry, and the fanbase. The organization\u2019s number one focus headed into this season, as they repeatedly vocalized, was to create a culture. Achiuwa\u2019s words make it seem like that is beginning to take shape, at least to an extent.<\/p>\n

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports<\/p>\n

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?<\/p>\n

The Sacramento Kings will face old friend De\u2019Aaron Fox and the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night at Golden 1 Center.<\/p>\n

San Antonio is 2-0 against the Kings this season, including a 139-122 win over Sacramento in the most recent meeting on February 21st.<\/p>\n

Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. San Antonio Spurs action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 5:30 PM PT on\u00a0Game Night\u00a0before a 7:00 pm PT tip-off from downtown Sacramento.<\/p>\n

Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season<\/p>\n

Tuesday, March 17th\u00a0vs. San Antonio Spurs \u2013 7:00 PM PT
\nThursday, March 19th\u00a0vs. Philadelphia 76ers \u2013 7:00 PM PT
\nSunday, March 22nd\u00a0vs. Brooklyn Nets \u2013 3:00 PM PT
\nTuesday, March 24th\u00a0\u2013 @ Charlotte Hornets \u2013 4:00 PM PT
\nThursday, March 26th\u00a0\u2013 @ Orlando Magic \u2013 4:00 PM PT<\/p>\n

Thank you for reading\u00a0SactownSports.com<\/a>. Follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Google News<\/a>, and subscribe to our\u00a0YouTube<\/a>\u00a0channel.<\/p>\n

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