Maxime Raynaud Is Rising Fast - But the Fouls Are Piling Up
The Kings may have stumbled onto something special in Maxime Raynaud. Since stepping into the starting lineup in place of the injured Domantas Sabonis, the rookie big man has wasted no time making his presence felt.
He’s scoring in double figures, crashing the glass, and even stringing together double-doubles like a seasoned pro. But as promising as his ascent has been, there’s still one glaring issue that could slow his momentum: the fouls.
Let’s start with the good - and there’s plenty of it.
Raynaud has now scored in double digits in eight of his last ten games, and he’s pulling down 8.5 rebounds per contest over that same stretch. That’s not just solid production for a rookie - that’s impact basketball. And with his fourth double-double of the season now in the books, three of them coming in the last three games, it’s clear the Kings may have found themselves another double-double machine to pair with or eventually succeed Sabonis.
He’s not just filling in. He’s producing.
That said, the growing pains are real - and they’re showing up in the foul column. Over his last ten games, Raynaud has averaged 3.3 fouls per game and has fouled out twice.
Most recently, in the Kings’ win over the Rockets, he picked up his sixth foul in overtime and was forced to watch the final stretch from the bench. That’s a tough pill to swallow, especially when you’re the starting center in a close game.
It’s not uncommon for young big men to struggle with foul trouble early in their careers. The NBA is a different beast - faster, more physical, and filled with players who know how to draw contact.
But Raynaud will need to adjust quickly. The Kings can’t afford to lose their starting center late in games, especially with Sabonis still sidelined.
Turnovers have been a smaller concern, but they’re still worth tracking. Raynaud is averaging 1.8 turnovers per game, which isn’t alarming on its own.
But one outing stood out: five turnovers and three fouls in a single game. Ironically, that was one of his better statistical performances - a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double.
It’s a reminder that while the production is there, the polish is still developing.
Let’s not forget - Raynaud is still in his rookie season. Learning how to defend without fouling, how to recognize offensive traps, how to pace himself over the course of a 48-minute game - all of that takes time. And he’s learning on the fly, against some of the best bigs in the league.
With Sabonis expected to be out for a few more weeks, Raynaud will continue to get extended run as the Kings’ starting center. That’s a golden opportunity for him to not only keep building on his offensive momentum but to clean up the areas that are holding him back - namely, staying on the floor and protecting the ball.
The potential is undeniable. The production is already showing up.
Now it’s just about tightening the screws. If Raynaud can cut down on the fouls and sharpen his decision-making, the Kings might not just have a stopgap - they might have their next foundational piece in the frontcourt.