In an already bad season plagued by injuries, losing a major rookie powerhouse like Maxime Raynaud would be the proverbial final nail in the coffin. Fortunately, it looks like Raynaud is relatively okay after the game against the Suns and will continue to play. That's as good as it gets for the Kings.
According to a league source, Maxime Raynaud’s MRI showed no structural damage and he is going to be listed as available for tomorrow’s game. Kings dodged a bullet. Some good news in Sacramento.
— James Ham (@James_HamNBA) January 3, 2026
Raynaud has quickly exploded as the top rookie on the Kings, carving out a spot on the Kia Rookie Ladder. He is regularly scoring in double-digits as well as collecting several double-doubles in December. Plus, his defense is picking up steam, though he has some work to do in that regard.
Maxime's rapid ascension has been huge for the Kings this season. After a major injury to Domantas Sabonis, Raynaud stepped in as the starting center and has done incredibly well. That's what made his early exit in the game against the Suns so incredibly difficult for Sactown fans.
Another look at the play that injured Raynaud ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Ak1jWhGjVd
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 3, 2026
While clearing a path for Russell Westbrook, Raynaud went down with what appeared to be a knee injury. He was helped off the court and went to the back to be examined. It's not what anyone on the Kings wanted to see, as he has become a key player for the team.
The Kings get some good news for once
After the game, Sacramento sent Raynaud to get an MRI on his left leg. It showed there is no structural damage, and he should be available to play tonight. That being said, the Kings might want to limit his minutes for a couple of games just to be on the safe side. No sense in increasing the risk.
As insane as this sounds, this might be some of the best news the Kings have gotten all season. They have an imbalanced team that can't find a rhythm. Their coach has tunnel vision. The NBA gave them a brutal schedule. And someone seems to get injured every third game.
At this point, the Sacramento Kings are basically the Wile E. Coyote of the NBA. Nothing is going right, and a surprisingly large amount of it is their own fault. The only thing left is for an ACME product to blow up underneath Dario Saric while trying to capture a shockingly fast bird.
Maxime Raynaud not sustaining a serious injury is great news for the Kings, particularly since there is no real timeline for Sabonis's return. At least Drew Eubanks is back from injury, meaning Sacramento at least has someone to start the game in the five.