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Maxime Raynaud (front, center) and Sacramento Kings players, October 17, 2025
Credit: Getty Images
When you’re a head, in general, you learn quickly. No wonder, then, that former Stanford math and computer science student Maxime Raynaud only needed one opportunity to understand how to make it in the NBA. The French rookie, rarely used during the first fifteen matches of the season, is finding a place in the rotation of the Sacramento Kings.
From 5.2 points scored per game on average for his first appearances, he has doubled his figures to 10.5 units (at 55.6% shooting) since November 20 and the injury to Domantas Sabonis. Only as a substitute, at first. Until he forced the move to the major five last Wednesday, posting 25 points (team leader), 6 rebounds and 3 assists against the Houston Rockets. “I am absolutely considering tenure.was then forced to recognize his trainer. It’s really, really an idea. I thought about doing it tonight.”
Lots of reasons to be excited
Thing promised, thing done: for only his fourteenth career match, in the Great League, the Frenchman was on the entry field against the Miami Heat on Saturday evening. And he repaid his coach for the trust he received (12 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks). With a little less glitter than in Texas, but with perhaps even better: the efficiency of a pivot who knows what he has to do (6/11 shooting, no lost balls). The most important thing is surely here. Even more so for him, who was required to still be a little tender for the NBA game at the start of the season.
Thus, the “he still has to learn the small details of the game, when to go out on the opponent in transition for example“and other”he’s a young player so physically it can be difficult” by Doug Christie just a few days ago have already become praise. “I love what Max bringsrejoiced the coach after starting him. He continues to grow and learn before our eyes. There are plenty of reasons to be excited about it. He’s a sponge, he asks questions. A lot of things you want to see from young players.“
“We begin to find automatismsrejoiced the main interested party after his 25-point match. I know where I need to be and when. I’m starting to develop chemistry with teammates. I wouldn’t say the game has slowed down, but I think it’s easier than the first day of training camp.” And all this in just a few months. Maxime Raynaud learned and he did it quickly. Here he is now installed in a starting chair for at least a few weeks, at least until the return of Domantas Sabonis. As long as the All-Star is not there, the Frenchie dances.
