Who is Maxime Raynaud?

There wasn't much expected from Maxime Raynaud when the Sacramento Kings selected him with a second-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. On a team that features Domantas Sabonis as a starting big man with the options to bring in Dario Saric, Drew Eubanks, or Precious Achiuwa off the bench, it seemed like Raynaud would be stuck on the end of the bench or gathering minutes with the Stockton Kings in the G-League.

And yet 22 games into the season, the Kings have been without Sabonis for the past 11 games and will likely be without him for another 3-4 weeks. But rather than turn to their experienced corps of backup big men, they have handed minutes over to their 7'1" rookie from Paris, France. While the team is still sitting dead last in the Western Conference at 6-22, Raynaud is providing them with a glimmer of hope for the future as a piece of their inevitable rebuilding project.

After playing four years at Stanford, Raynaud fell to the 42nd pick in the draft, earning the usual garbage minutes and DNPs that come with being a late-round rookie pick. However, since the loss of Sabonis, Raynaud has turned heads, averaging 17 points and 8.3 rebounds in December. Starting six of the team's last seven games, the rookie has recorded a 29-point, 11-rebound performance, posted three double-doubles, and scored double digits in six of those seven contests.

While he isn't quite the modern-day inside-outside threat, Raynaud provides the Kings with a versatile big man who can score inside, hit the occasional three, clean up the glass on both ends of the court, and provide adequate rim protection.

With the season basically a loss at this point, the Kings need young players they can build around for the future. Trending towards a rebuild with veterans Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan all part of trade talks, Raynaud could be their pillar in the paint moving forward. At 22 years of age, he is already showing he can handle starter minutes and has room for improvement.

Sacramento hasn't had the best of luck with draft picks over the past few years (minus Keegan Murray). But with Raynaud, they may have stumbled upon a diamond in the rough. Considering all that has gone wrong for the team this season, at least Raynaud gives Kings fans one reason to keep watching.