Precious Achiuwa may have found a home in Sacramento after bouncing around the league since he was drafted in 2020.
The 20th overall pick that year, the 6’8’’ power forward has played on four teams. After being waived by the Miami Heat in October, the Kings signed him in early November. He ended this season averaging 10 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 23.9 minutes per game this season.
Speaking to the media this week after the Kings season wrapped up, Achiuwa expressed how much he enjoyed being in Sacramento and seems to hope to be back.
“My representation is going to be in constant communication with the organization and the front office and hopefully, I’m praying that we’re able to come to something that works for both sides,” he said.
This was the highest scoring season of his career and the most games started in his career (57).
He had some big games this season, including 29 points and 12 rebounds against the Mavericks on Feb. 26; 29 points and 12 rebounds on March 5 against the Pelicans; 25 points and 13 rebounds against the Clippers on March 14; 28 points and 19 rebounds against the Raptors on April 1; and 27 points and 11 rebounds against the Blazers in the last game of the season.
In some of these games, opponents seemed to have no answer for him.
On Wednesday, Kings general manager Scott Perry told media he is interested in bringing Achiuwa back.
“Not bad for a guy that came off the couch in November, right? Really enjoyed working with Precious this year. … I know he’d like to be back here. We’d like to have him back here so hopefully we will continue to do business together,” Perry said.
Perry said as the season wore on Achiuwa became more comfortable. He noted how the forward can guard multiple positions and plays with the “necessary athleticism, energy, and force I think that is very important in today’s game.”
As for Precious, not only did he get a chance to excel on the court and feels wanted on the Kings, he likes Sacramento’s lowkey vibe.
“The most important thing is being somewhere I’m wanted. An organization that wants me to be there and where I enjoy being. Sacramento is a place that I love being. I’ve played in a lot of big cities. I grew up in a big city as well. But I’ve always been the type of person to kind of like be lowkey, out the way, and Sacramento gives me that feeling where it’s not a lot going on, not too crazy, and that’s my pace,” he said.
Achiuwa was a nice surprise this season, and at 26 years old, would be a good option to bring back.
I’d like him to come back too. Decline that option Lavine, and let’s waive Deebo.
10PPG, 6.7 rebounds, and assist and nearly a block as a starter. That’s pretty impressive numbers for a 26 year old Jason Thompson…uhhh, I mean Prescious Thompson. No, that’s not it either. Prescious Achiuwa!
They are the same player at the same age. What are we even doing here?
If the Kings want him as a bench big at 15MPG, then fine, but at the moment they can’t even afford him. They are likely an apron team and can pretty much just offer him the vet-minimum deal.
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