If there's one thing that Domantas Sabonis became known for on the Sacramento Kings, it was monster double-doubles. Well, rookie Maxime Raynaud is following in the All-Star's footsteps. He dropped a 21-point, 19-rebound night on the Pelicans, proving the Kings have a new starting center.
Sabonis has long been the king of double-doubles, even before he actually joined the Kings. He's been averaging a double-double since his fourth season in the NBA. That was when he was still with the Indiana Pacers in 2019-2020, a run that remains unbroken even this season.
The 2025-2026 season hasn't exactly been kind to Sabonis or the Kings. Domantas has been dealing with injuries, one of which kept him out for two months. So far, he has only played 19 out of 55 games this season. Yet, Sabonis is still averaging a double-double despite the injuries.
While Sabonis has his problems, particularly on defense, it's hard not to respect that level of consistency. With the Kings planning a future without him, they need a center who can deliver something similar. That person is likely Maxime Raynaud, who let his inner Sabonis out last night.
Maxime Raynaud continues to prove his value to the Sacramento Kings
During the extended injury absence that kept Sabonis away, Raynaud was tapped to take over as the starting center. It was a lot of pressure for the rookie, but he delivered. He had several double-doubles of his own and was regularly scoring in the double digits. Raynaud is key to the Kings' future.
In last night's horrible loss to the Pelicans, Raynaud still stepped up in a big way. He dropped 21 points, 19 rebounds, one assist, and one steal on New Orleans. It was the biggest double-double of his young career, not to mention a career best in rebounds. Even better, he was back to form.
With the return of Sabonis and the rise of Dylan Cardwell, Raynaud's minutes and usage had slipped a bit in January. Fortunately, that has changed as he has had double digits in five out of the last six games and picked up another pair of double-doubles along the way.
For the Sacramento Kings, a rookie playing the way Maxime Raynaud has been is like experiencing the future right now. If the Kings play their cards right, Raynaud is one of the athletes who will anchor the rebuild and help Sacramento become a better team in the coming years.