The rise of Maxime Raynaud has been huge for the Sacramento Kings. He’s gotten to the point where he’s now in the top five in Kia’s rookie rankings, which is huge considering the caliber of rookies this season. And the scary thing is that the Kings have only scratched the surface of his potential.
Sacramento selected Raynaud 42nd overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. It wasn’t during a Taco Bell commercial like Nikola Jokic, but it was still a deep pick. The second round has a lot of talent these days, which is why those picks are worth a lot more now than they were before.
While all three of the Kings’ rookies have done well, Raynaud was the first to stand out. He’s a reliable scorer and rebounder, not to mention a solid presence on defense. Like Domantas Sabonis, he is on his way to becoming a certified and verified double-double machine.
Raynaud took things up a notch in his most recent performance against the Pelicans, posting a double-double of 21 points and 19 rebounds. That’s what’s made him a fixture on Kia’s rookie ladder, which has been climbing like an absolute madman recently.
Raynaud continues to deliver for the Kings
The latest Kia Rookie Ladder is the last one before the All-Star break. While Raynaud has been on the list for weeks, this round is the first time Maxime has cracked the top five. The only rookies ahead are Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, VJ Edgecombe and Derik Queen.
That’s not exactly a list without names. These are not only the best rookies this season, but also some of the best the league has ever seen. 2025-2026 will be remembered as one of the best rookie classes in NBA history, and Maxime Raynaud is a big part of that.
Knowing this reiterates how disappointing it is that Raynaud missed the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars tournament. He was left out of the draft pool for coaches to build teams despite his success. Maybe he’ll have another chance to be a part of All-Star weekend in the future.
For now, Maxime Raynud will likely remain the Kings’ starting center and one of the key pieces of their rebuilding strategy. Taking the Rookie of the Year award away from Cooper Flagg is nearly impossible, but that doesn’t change how impressive what Raynaud has accomplished this season.
