The entire Sacramento Kings' front office has to be overjoyed with how well Maxime Raynaud has panned out. That was certainly true against the Clippers last night, which saw him have yet another big game and reaffirm his status as one of the top rookies in the entire league.
After a relatively quiet January, Raynaud has been on an absolute tear throughout February and March. That includes last night's rather unexpected victory over the LA Clippers. In 30 minutes on the court, he picked up 23 points, five rebounds, and two assists. It was a great evening for the rookie.
Making it even more impressive was his shooting efficiency. Raynaud went 11 for 12 from the field, giving him a field goal percentage of 91.7. Unfortunately, he only shot one for three from the free throw line, so there's still a bit of work to do. The Kings don't need a Shaq situation on their hands.
Again, Mad Max was a deep second-round draft pick for the Kings, and he has quickly become a respectable starting center for Sacramento. On top of that, Raynaud is technically in the running for Rookie of the Year, though it's a long shot at absolute best.
Raynaud has already made the Kings proud
For months now, Maxime has been a regular fixture on the Kia Rookie Ladder, a weekly ranking of the top rookies in the league. It doesn't necessarily determine who will be the NBA Rookie of the Year, but it is an important climate check on how the current crop of rookies is doing.
In the most recent edition of the ladder, Raynaud is occupying the fifth spot. He has held it down for the last few weeks, with a short-term drop to sixth place. A major reason is the fact that he is leading all rookies this season in double-doubles with 14 so far in 2025-2026.
Being that Kon Knueppel, Cooper Flagg, VJ Edgecombe, and Dylan Harper are all ahead of him on the list, winning ROTY seems unlikely for Raynaud. But the fact that he's now consistently fifth means that his name is legitimately in the running. Just being a top rookie is a big deal.
Maxime Raynaud may not be likely to win ROTY, but he should be named to an NBA All-Rookie Team this season. Considering how well he's played and his regular position on the KIA Rookie Ladder, Raynaud is a shoo-in for the Second Team and a strong contender for the First Team.