The Sacramento Kings might have had a historically rough season, but there were a few bright spots. A major one was the rapid rise of rookie center Maxime Raynaud. Despite his impressive play, he was left off the NBA All-Rookie First Team, a move that remains impossible to understand.
I had the Sacramento Kings' Maxime Raynaud on my ballot as my final All-Rookie First Team selection. He was eighth among rookies in scoring (12.5 ppg) and fourth in rebounding (7.5 rpg). Was fifth in scoring (17.3 ppg) and fourth in rebounding (9.2 rpg) after the All-Star break. https://t.co/88X9xfExZ7
— Jason Anderson (@JandersonSacBee) May 20, 2026
Raynaud was definitely not a high pick in mock drafts last season. He was ultimately selected 42nd overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. Honestly, Raynaud was just happy to get into the league. He wasn't Dylan Cardwell happy, but no one is. That guy emantes pure joy and gratitude everywhere he goes.
That doesn't change the fact that no one was expecting much from Raynaud. His low draft pick combined with the fact he was on the Kings meant that he wasn't going to get much media attention. All of that changed really quickly once the season got rolling and his situation improved.
Raynaud's breakout season started early
After Domantas Sabonis was injured, Raynaud took over as the Kings' starting center and absolutely killed it. He became a double-double machine, much like the player he was replacing, and was a much more reliable defensive presence than Sabonis ever was for Sacramento.
This, in turn, led to him becoming a regular on the Kia Rookie Ladder, placing in the top five several times throughout the back half of the season. He was named the Kia Western Conference Rookie of the Month for March. He even finished the season as the rookie leader in double-doubles.
And all of that came from a center drafted in the 42nd spot. Given how well he played, the honors he accrued, and how he proved himself, one would think Raynaud earned himself a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team. That did not happen.
The voting panel makes the wrong call
A global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters votes on end-of-season awards, such as the All-Rookie Teams. Raynaud ended up placing seventh in All-Rookie voting, tied with Jeremiah Fears with 110 points. Both were just 15 points behind Cedric Coward who took fifth.
No disrespect meant to either Fears or Coward, but Raynaud absolutely outplayed both of them. They were expected to do well in their rookie seasons, and arguably did not meet those expectations. Raynaud exceeded his, and theirs, by a country mile.
The one through four spots on the NBA All-Rookie First Team are undeniable, but that fifth place should have gone to Raynaud. He earned it several times over this season. While it's great that he made the Second Team, it feels like Coward got the First Team spot due to pre-season expectations.
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