SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. has a skillset that's become impossible to ignore, but reality is setting in that the team is in a rebuild phase that's going to come with growing pains.

Sacramento is currently on a four-game skid after losing to the Orlando Magic, 107-100, on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. Acuff, who had 29 points on 10-of-21 shooting, was visibly frustrated as the losing continues for the 1-10 Kings.

The 19-year-old, stoic Acuff walked into a postgame press conference as the face of the franchise fielding questions about a lethargic start to the season. The most frustrating part? All of it.

"When the clock says zero and we lost," Acuff told USA TODAY Sports.

Acuff said he understands that it's an 82-game season, but that doesn't hide his passion and emotion. There's a profound desire to win.

"I don't know what to do man, I feel like we're trying," Acuff said. "Everybody as a whole, we're just not coming out with the win. I don't know man, 1-10 just don't sound right."

In a short period, Acuff has commanded attention around the league for his scoring ability and assertiveness. He's averaged 25.9 point per game through his first 11 games, but the Kings have only won once.

Acuff has topped numerous rookie records, or came close. His latest is the most points through the first 10 games (259) for a rookie since Michael Jordan had 273 in the 1984-85 season. All of the personal feats don't mean a thing, though, if they don't convert into wins.

"A lot," Acuff said on much losses wear on him. "I'm not a loser. So it's not fun."

Sacramento turned the ball over 21 times in the loss. Acuff had four and took accountability for it. It's the same conversations over and over of defense, limiting turnovers and executing for four quarters. The Kings will find themselves in a competitive game, then something happens when you look up after checking a few phone notifications and they are down double-digits.

"We've been saying it for five games now, it's kind of hard to keep saying that without actually doing it," Acuff said. "We just got to go out there and actually do it. We're on the court playing, there's nobody to blame but ourselves. We just got to get better as a team."

Although Acuff seemed reluctant to talk after yet another loss, he grudgingly ensured that he answered questions thoroughly, with eye contact – an early display of maturity.

"And to answer your question, it's just kind of the 2nd half is kind of frustrating," Acuff told USA TODAY Sports. "It's like in the 1st half, we come out with energy, and then 3rd quarter, sometimes we don't, and then we do. Then in 4th quarter, the last 5 minutes of a game, we just can't put it together as a team. I think we're trying. We talking as a staff, as a team. But like I said, when the clock is zero, we just lose, and that's the most frustrating part."

Acuff is learning each and every game, which is what Sacramento should be most concerned with.

"I'm learning a new lesson every game. Well, a few lessons every game," Acuff said to USA TODAY on Sunday after a loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday, Nov. 8. "Trying not to get too high, trying not to get too low, just trying to stay even-killed, you know ... just keep building that trust and communication with my teammates. Things will get better real soon."

Zach LaVine scored a team-high 31 points on Tuesday and reiterated his role of supporting Acuff. LaVine has been extremely high on the rookie and has taken him under his wing, even vocally supporting his shot volume. The veteran has made it his duty to advocate for Acuff and be an asset to him.

"Darius is special," LaVine said. "This isn't for me anymore. I got to be able to try and support him the best I can, if that's playing off the ball a bit more, if that's catch-and-shoot situations. That's the role I'm in now. I can go out and get it obviously. Like you tell me to go score, I'll do that for sure. But I'm trying to be in the best support role I can for him because he's gonna be real special."

LaVine's message is for the team to stay together.

"From the front office down, we all have the same record," LaVine said. "It's us versus everybody, that's how we have to look at it. We have to try to figure it out as a unit, how are we going to start putting together more games where we can give ourselves a chance to win."