Stanford graduate Maxime Raynaud will play for the Sacramento Kings during the 2025-26 season after his selection in the NBA draft.
The Kings used the No. 42 overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft to draft Raynaud. The 7-foot-1 French beg man had a standout senior year at Stanford, where he averaged 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, making him the only player in the country to achieve those numbers that season.
Born and raised in Paris, France, Raynaud arrived at Stanford for the 2021-22 season. After being a reserve as a freshman, he moved quickly up the depth chart and became a starter by his second year. After a solid junior year, the Cardinal fired head coach Jared Haase, which made Raynaud question leaving the team. However, he decided to stay and had a breakout season, making first team All-ACC alongside Duke’s Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NBA draft. He also won the Skip Prosser award as the ACC Scholar Athlete of the Year.
His 10.6 rebounds per game led the ACC and ranked ninth nationally. He finished second nationally in double-doubles with 25, behind UAB’s Yaxel Lendeborg who had 26. Raynaud also set a new Stanford single season rebounding record with 371.
“Max possesses a very unique combination of size, skill and ability that really mirrors a lot of the big players in today’s game of basketball,” Kings general manager Scott Perry stated in Raynaud’s introductory press conference. “He’s a double-double machine there at Stanford. We think he has a lot of growth and development in front of him and can be very helpful.”
As for Raynaud, he shared his excitement to start his NBA journey at the same press conference where he shared the stage with the Kings’ second round draft pick, Nique Clifford.
“I’m glad we get there but once again it’s not the finish line, this is just the start. This is where you have to double down your work, you have to listen even more, you have to adapt and I think we’re both willing to do that,” Raynaud said.