Rookie sensation Maxime Raynaud's dominant second half and historic statistical achievements solidify his bid for an All-Rookie Team selection.
Maxime Raynaud has been the silver lining for a Sacramento Kings (21-58) team that experienced a very different season than what the team anticipated.
The rookie big man is averaging 12.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists, and shooting an efficient 56.7 percent from the field.
However, since the All-Star Break, the No. 42 overall selection has played like a lottery pick, earning Rookie of the Month honors for March. Raynaud averaged 17.9 points and 8.5 rebounds last month, starting all 15 games he appeared in.
Following the Kings' 138-109 loss against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, Raynaud made his case for an All-Rookie Team selection, a goal he and his teammates have had an eye on.
"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 reporters Sunday night. "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."
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 Thursday.
Raynaud began to turn heads as the season went on, with his top performance of the year coming in mid-March against his long-time rival and fellow Frenchman Victor Wembanyama.
Raynaud caught fire, exploding for a career-high 32 points, added nine rebounds and knocked down two 3-pointers.
Later in the month, Raynaud led the Kings to 126-122 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, dropping a 22-and-10 double-double and making a bold claim that puts him alongside two of the top players in the world.
"The Spurs have Wembanyama, Denver has Jokic, and the Kings have me," Raynaud said following the win.
This is quite the company for Raynaud to be in already, but confidence has never been a problem for Raynaud, as he told media at practice on Monday.
"I think the confidence has always been here. I just think that naturally, there is a better opportunity and specific environment to display it in, especially over the last month," Raynaud said. "There's no reason to be shy or hide myself. I do think I put in the work every single day. I do the right things on-and-off the court or at least strive for it, so yeah, there's nothing wrong with being confident and being happy to be here too."
Raynaud went on to say he still has days when he is "in awe" at the practice facility, expressing his gratitude for just being in the NBA.
The Kings have certainly struck gold with Raynaud, drafting the most-productive rookie big man in the class, and doing so in the second round.
Whether Raynaud earns a spot on the highly competitive all-rookie team remains to be seen, but his performance and mindset align exactly with what the Kings are looking for.
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