Clifford powered through, while Raynaud found his mid-season reset. Hear how these young Kings tackled the rookie grind and what's next.
Despite the Sacramento Kings' disappointing season, young talents like Maxime Raynaud, Nique Clifford and Precious Achiuwa each showed flashes of potential.
On Friday, the young Kings trio joined "The Old Man and the Three" podcast to reflect on the 2025-26 season and share the lessons they are taking into next year.
"For me, I always said, 'I'm not gonna hit that rookie wall,'" Clifford said. "Everybody talk about it. I was like, I'm not gonna do it. I'm not going for it. So that was something I always, like, just had in my mind from the beginning (of the) year."
Clifford averaged 8.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists during his rookie campaign, really turning it on after the All-Star Break.
The former Colorado State guard jumped up to double-digit scoring during the final three months of the season, including a 17.7 point per game showing in April.
While Clifford said he avoided the dreaded rookie wall, Raynaud, his rookie counterpart, said halfway through the season, he needed a reboot.
"I kind of hit it [the wall] right before All-Star break, to be honest. At least mentally. I think physically, I could still go out there and play, and not feel like I was that gassed," Raynaud said. "But mentally, it kind of felt like games were not games anymore. ... It was just you had to show up every day, and it wasn't the right approach. So, I think, you know, resetting around that All-Star break was really good for me."
Like Clifford, Raynaud put on a show post-break, playing well-above his No. 42 overall draft pick label.
The big man averaged 17.9 points and 8.5 rebounds in March and earned Rookie of the Month honors.
Raynaud recorded 268 points and 128 rebounds, joining Otis Thorpe and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only rookies in NBA history to record 250 or more points and 125 or more rebounds on at least 59-percent shooting from the field, according to a Kings press release.
Frequently throughout the season, Raynaud expressed confidence in his ability, making his case for an All-Rookie team nod.
"I think I've put up the numbers to do it. Leading the league in double-doubles for rookies, I think I'm top-five in the last five years," Raynaud told following the Kings' 138-109 loss against the Los Angeles Clippers late in the season. "I lead the rookies in rebounds per game. Obviously, started off slow the first couple of months, but I mean I had a tremendous second half of the year."
Both DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook receive some of the credit for Raynaud's and Clifford's success, as the two rookies have frequently praised the Kings' veteran duo.
"I think their ability to reset their mind and compete night after night after 17, 18 years is unbelievable," Raynaud said. "Having that mental sharpness and mental focus over and over again is something that for me, I admire a ton. Like after a whole season, I already feel washed, you know, and they've been doing it for 18 years and competing at such high level."
Clifford and Raynaud's late-season success is extremely promising for a Kings team looking for young talent to breakthrough.
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