The Kings are awaiting medical results on Maxime Raynaud's right knee injury after he left on a wheelchair and later crutches, while Ben Simmons stayed with him, followed him to the locker room, and stressed that supporting his teammate mattered more than the preseason loss.
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Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud suffered a concerning right knee injury during Saturday's 111-106 preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors, leaving the court in a wheelchair before later being seen on crutches.
With 2:32 remaining in the second quarter, the second-year big man went down while setting a screen for Darius Acuff Jr.
After appearing to collide knee-to-knee with Stephen Curry as the Warriors guard navigated the pick, Raynaud immediately grabbed his right knee in obvious pain.
Raynaud remained on the floor while Sacramento's medical staff attended to him before he was helped into a wheelchair and taken to the locker room.
Kings general manager Scott Perry accompanied him, while team owner Vivek Ranadive later checked on him outside the locker room.
Raynaud was later seen leaving the arena on crutches, but Sacramento has not yet announced a diagnosis or timetable.
Kings head coach Doug Christie said the team would wait for the medical evaluation before offering any further details.
"We're going to wait and get everything before we even speak on that," Christie said after the game. "But I love him. He's part of everything that we do. I told him that, and we'll see what the doctors say."
Christie, Simmons show support for Raynaud
"Being around this sport for pretty much my whole life, injuries are just hard, but they're part of what we do," Christie said. "We care about each other on a deeper level than just teammates and coach and player."
The Kings coach revealed what he told Raynaud while the center was still on the floor.
"As I told him on the floor, 'I love you, man. We're here for you. We got you,'" Christie said. "You don't want to hear that in those moments, but it's part of what we do, unfortunately. We put ourselves at risk.
"It's never a good thing."
Ben Simmons was among the first Sacramento players to reach Raynaud after the injury and stayed close to him before following him toward the locker room.
"I've been through it. I know that feeling," Simmons said. "So regardless of the sport itself or what happens, you just want to show support to your teammates."
Simmons added that Raynaud's condition mattered far more to him than the preseason result.
"You got to be a good person, man," he said. "The game is the game. We lost, who cares? I'm more worried about my teammate and how he's doing."
Before the injury, Raynaud had recorded 10 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block in the game.
The 23-year-old French big man emerged as an important piece for Sacramento during his rookie season after being selected with the 42nd overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Over 74 games (including 56 starts) last season, he averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists and earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors.
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