Sacramento Kings rookie Maxime Raynaud is rapidly turning heads in the NBA. The 22-year-old, who will turn 23 next month, has put together back-to-back 30-point performances, scoring 30 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday and a career-high 32 against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. This recent surge in performance has led Kings coach Doug Christie to declare that Raynaud has “smashed through the ceiling.”
Selected No. 42 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, Raynaud is exceeding expectations for a second-round pick. He’s seizing an opportunity that not all rookies are prepared for, according to Christie. “Sometimes you get the opportunity and you’re not ready to seize it, and he’s seized the opportunity,” Christie said after Thursday’s game.
Expanding Offensive Game
Raynaud’s performance against Philadelphia showcased his well-rounded offensive game. He started the game shooting 6-of-6 from the field, demonstrating his efficiency and confidence. Beyond his inside game, Raynaud is as well developing a reliable outside shot, a dimension of his game that wasn’t as prominent earlier in his NBA career.
He’s 5-for-9 from three-point range over his last two games, a promising sign for his continued development. During his time in NCAA competition, Raynaud demonstrated the ability to shoot from beyond the arc, and he appears to be translating that skill to the professional level.
Teammate Dylan Cardwell isn’t surprised by Raynaud’s progress. “When we saw him in college or in Summer League, we knew he had that in his game. To see him continue in that direction, it can become huge for us,” Cardwell explained.
Christie believes Raynaud’s developing three-point shot will open up his game even further. Defenses will be forced to respect his outside shooting, creating more space for him to attack the basket. Christie even drew comparisons between Raynaud’s feints and those of Nikola Jokic and Jack Sikma, highlighting his touch and ability to play at his own pace.
Impressive Statistics and Bright Future
Since February 1st, Raynaud is averaging 16.1 points on 60-percent shooting, along with 8.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. These numbers are particularly impressive considering the context of Sacramento’s season, which has been impacted by injuries and a focus on player development.
Christie emphasized Raynaud’s team-first mentality and dedication to improvement. “He thinks first about the team and doing things the right way. His touch is very high level. He continues to work on his three-point shot, his footwork, his verticality on defense. He has a really, really bright future,” Christie stated.
Raynaud himself remains grounded. “I’ll think about all of this once the season is over,” he said after setting a new career-high against the Spurs. “We’ve had a lot of injuries early in the team. It’s obviously not the most ideal situation, you desire everyone to be healthy. But at least as a rookie, it’s clearly given me a role that wasn’t there originally. And I’m trying to take advantage of it as much as possible. It’s the circumstances that led to this. You get your chance, you play at the level you want to be at, and things fall into place.”
Raynaud will look to continue his strong play on Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets, a game that could have implications in the race for a lower draft position for several teams.
| Maxime Raynaud | Pourcentage | Rebonds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Equipe | MJ | Min | Tirs | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Tot | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2025-26 | SAC | 63 | 25:32 | 56.8 | 28.6 | 79.8 | 1.9 | 5.3 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 11.7 |
Comment lire les stats ? MJ = matches joués ; Min = Minutes ; Tirs = Tirs réussis / Tirs tentés ; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points tentés ; LF = lancers-francs réussis / lancers-francs tentés ; Off = rebond offensif ; Def= rebond défensif ; Tot = Total des rebonds ; Pd = passes décisives ; Fte : Fautes personnelles ; Int = Interceptions ; Bp = Balles perdues ; Ct : Contres ; Pts = Points.
The Kings will need Raynaud’s continued development as they navigate the remainder of the season. His ability to score, rebound, and now shoot from the outside makes him a valuable asset for Sacramento. Fans can follow the Kings’ schedule and Raynaud’s progress on the team’s official website: nbcsportsbayarea.com.
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