Maxime Raynaud was away for a good chunk of the Sacramento Kings' preseason run, mainly because he was in France with their national team. But the Kings probably aren't too worried about him as his return to an NBA court was also a return to form for one of last season's standout rookies.
The California Classic was good for the Kings, with a record of three wins and zero losses. They managed to achieve that without their star center, which was a good sign for fans. His work with the French team kept him away from Sacramento for the entirety of the Classic.
Raynaud was back in time for the start of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He sat out the first game, ostensibly to rest, and only ended up playing in games two and three. Even in game three, he played limited minutes, likely because the coaches already know what he's about.
Throughout the 2025-2026 season, Raynaud proved Scott Perry was right to pick him in the second round of the draft. He proved himself to be the steal of the draft, leaping from that late selection all the way to being one of the top rookies in the league last season.
Raynaud remined everyone in the Summer League who he is
The only substantial look anyone got at Raynaud in Vegas was game two against the Wizards. Unfortunately, it was a loss, largely thanks to A.J. Dybantsa and Will Riley absolutely going off. At the same time, it's impossible to deny how well Raynaud played in that game.
In almost 31 minutes, Raynaud logged 20 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and one steal. His first game even related to the 2026-2027 season, and the man picked up a double-double. He was the top double-double collector among rookies last season, so it was good to see that from him.
His defensive efforts left a lot to be desired, though he was in the mix. The major concern was his fouls, as he finished the game with five. Given the position he plays, a couple of fouls are to be expected. Five was a little much, but fans can likely chalk that up to getting back in the NBA groove.
After that, Raynaud only played 15 minutes in game three and sat out for games four and five. The Kings took a cautious approach to their star center. Since they're not too worried about his work on the court, they chose not to risk an injury over the Summer League. It was the right choice.
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