The 7-foot-1 Frenchman transformed into a pick-and-roll force under the veteran’s mentorship, parlaying a historic March scoring outburst into All-Rookie honors and a bright future in Sacramento.
Maxime Raynaud was a gem for the Sacramento Kings as the 42nd pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and at the core of his success was veteran guard Russell Westbrook.
At 7-foot-1, Raynaud rarely initiates offense from the perimeter. He's the screen setter for the primary ball-handler, and throughout the season, that was Westbrook.
The 18-year veteran is a master at feeding his big man in the pick-and-roll, as he was once a triple-double machine. He played a significant role in Raynaud having a career-high 32 points against the San Antonio Spurs on March 17.
Westbrook assisted 17 of the Frenchman's points. Lob dunks, dump-off passes for easy layups or finding Raynaud open in the corner, the veteran playmaker always found his center.
"I strongly believe that Russ gave me that kind of confidence, mentorship that I needed to really play at my full potential," Raynaud told Sactown Sports' Jason Ross.
Raynaud earned Western Conference Rookie of the Month in March and made the All-Rookie Second Team for his stellar season. It was a great individual season for him, leading to his selection for the French national team before he returned to Las Vegas and joined the Summer League team.
The highs were great, but the lack of team success brought him back down to reality. Sacramento, despite possessing an elite rookie in Raynaud, finished the season with a 22-60 record.
"If I keep it real, too, not having the team success that we were expecting and we wanted is also something that pulls you back to reality," Raynaud said.
The 7-footer has an opportunity to change those results next season. Rookies Darius Acuff Jr., Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp join the fray, aiming to help the Kings have a turnaround 2026.
Westbrook is still a free agent and unlikely to re-sign with his former team, ending the partnership with Raynaud after one season. One season with him as the playmaker was enough to help the 42nd overall pick thrive in the pick-and-roll.
Acuff Jr. should become the new pick-and-roll partner for Raynaud, and it won't be just for one season. The duo will have multiple seasons to form a stronger connection than he did with Westbrook, which could make them a formidable duo in the NBA for the foreseeable future.
Sacramento's future is bright with new rookies joining and an All-Rookie Second Team center still improving, heading into his sophomore season. Raynaud — with Westbrook’s mentorship — could become the organization's franchise center over the next several years.
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