The Sacramento Kings got a scare on Saturday, but Maxime Raynaud’s knee injury turned out to be less severe than it first appeared.
Raynaud left the preseason game against the Golden State Warriors late in the first half after a collision with Stephen Curry, who was trying to stay in front of Kings point guard Darius Acuff Jr. The moment looked bad enough that Raynaud was eventually taken off the floor in a wheelchair, which immediately raised fears of a major setback.
The team’s latest update offered some relief. In a press release, the Kings said Raynaud did not suffer a major knee injury and will be re-evaluated in about two weeks. The official report said:
“Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud, who exited Saturday night’s preseason game against the Golden State Warriors with 2:32 remaining in the second quarter, underwent an MRI of his right knee. Imaging revealed a right patellar subluxation. Raynaud will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks, and further updates will be provided as appropriate.”
That diagnosis matters. Any knee issue is enough to set off alarms, especially when it involves a load-bearing joint, but a patellar subluxation is a far better outcome than the worst-case scenarios that initially seemed possible.
Certified athletic trainer Jeff Stotts explained the distinction this way:
“A patellar subluxation is significantly different than a knee dislocation. Recovery will focus on strengthening the area to reduce the odds of a recurrence. Average time lost for in-season patellar subluxations in the NBA is ~14 days.”
Even with that encouraging news, Raynaud’s chances of being ready for Sacramento’s season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers on October 21 appear slim.
The timing is especially frustrating for Raynaud, who finished his rookie season on a strong note and posted averages of 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 0.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. That late surge had him trending toward a bigger role in the Kings’ rotation.
His teammates made it clear how much the moment hit them. Darius Acuff Jr. said after the game:
“I was coming off the screen, so I really didn’t get to see much. But I’m praying for him.
It’s tough to see a teammate… We don’t know what happened yet, but it’s always tough to see a teammate go down. He’s got us with him for sure.”
Ben Simmons, who was one of the first Kings players to reach Raynaud, also spoke about the scene and what it means to a locker room.
“That’s my teammate, you know. For a guy to go down, it sucks,” Simmons began.
“I’ve been there before. I’ve experienced injuries.
So, I know that feeling. It feels like the end of the world in that moment.
But just letting him know that we’re here to support him, whether it’s something serious or major. But yeah, we’re here to support him.”
He added:
“I’ve been through it. I know that feeling.
So regardless of the sport itself or what happens, you just want to show support to your teammates,” he added. “You’ve got to be a good person, man.
Like, the game is the game. Like we lost, who cares?
I’m more worried about my teammate and how he’s doing.”
Asked about the effect on the group going into the second half, Simmons said:
“It sucks. It comes with sports, but he’ll be strong.
He’ll get through it. It’s just another obstacle in the way.
He’s a great player, and I think he has a great mentality. So he’ll be fine.
Everyone’s got his back.”
For Sacramento, the good news is that Raynaud avoided the kind of injury everyone feared in the moment. The bigger test now is how the Kings respond while waiting for his next evaluation.
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