Raynaud ignites March with historic scoring and rebounding, earning top rookie honors and veteran praise for his dominant play.
Sacramento Kings rookie big man Maxime Raynaud has significantly leveled up his play since the NBA All-Star break, making a strong push for first-team All-Rookie consideration.
Thursday afternoon, Raynaud added to his case, being named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for March.
Raynaud averaged 17.9 points and 8.5 rebounds in March, starting all 15 games he appeared in.
The Frenchman 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 the Kings' press release Thursday.
On March 17, Raynaud faced off against his longtime friend and rival Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. He caught fire, exploding for a career-high 32 points, adding nine rebounds and knocking down two 3-pointers.
Following the game, Raynaud expressed the importance of putting on a good performance against Wembanyama, who has established himself as one of the top players in the NBA.
"Obviously, personally, when you play against one of your friends, you always want to trash talk a little bit and give an extra effort," Raynaud said. "Yeah, it kind of went my way today individually, but clearly I have to find ways to impact the game a little bit more."
Raynaud's 3-point shooting was much improved in March, knocking down 44.4-percent of his attempts from deep.
Both Raynaud's current teammates and NBA veterans around the league have taken notice of the rookie's improved play, with veteran Kings forward DeMar DeRozan leading the charge.
DeRozan has frequently talked about Raynaud's growth, while saying that the rookie big man is part of his secret goal for this season.
Following the Kings' 126-122 victory over the Brooklyn Nets in late March, DeRozan told media "Don't tell him, but from my standpoint, I want him to make the All-Rookie team."
The six-time All-Star explained he was angry when Raynaud didn't make the Rising Stars Game, while saying he's enjoyed being able to impart wisdom in him and the rest of the Kings' younger players.
"So it's cool, you know, pushing those young guys to be successful, it's fun to watch," DeRozan added.
This endorsement came after a 22-10 performance, notching one of Raynaud's 17 double-doubles - which leads the rookie class.
On the final weekend of March, Los Angeles Clippers forward and French basketball legend Nicolas Batum talked about Raynaud's stellar rookie season, saying that his success is not a shock.
"[He had] four years in college -- that’s rare today in the NBA. But he’s a very intelligent guy. He’s got skills," Batum said on the "The Old Man and the Three" podcast. "He understands his role, he understands the moments, he understands the context. I’ve talked to him a bit. I’ve known him for a while. I even met him before he went to college. So I’m not surprised."
However, Batum said he was shocked that Raynaud dropped to the second round in last year's draft, saying he "thought he was a lock for the top 20." He also gave promising remarks regarding Sacramento basketball and how Raynaud will fit in going forward.
"He landed in a good situation for him -- he has a real opportunity to play, he has good veterans around him," Batum said. "The team’s situation is complicated, but they’ll find solutions. Sacramento, it’s a real basketball city. So it’s good for him."
Raynaud's continued production has earned him a significant role for the Kings going forward and he has certainly positioned himself to earn All-Rookie Team honors.
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