While it had already been acknowledged that the 2026-27 season would be tough for the Sacramento Kings, the latest news only reinforces that impression, as they have lost Maxime Raynaud to what appears to be a serious injury to his right knee.
The injury occurred during the first half of the preseason game against the Golden State Warriors. The second-year center was defending a block, and during the contact he took a hit on the outer part of his right knee; he cried out in pain immediately and collapsed to the court.
At once the severity of the situation was evident. The Kings’ head coach, Doug Christie, called a timeout and the medical team rushed to attend to Raynaud, who was covering his face with his hands before being wheeled off. Here is the scene.
Immediately, the center underwent medical examinations at the Chase Center, including an X-ray of the affected area; however, the team chose not to issue any formal statement until an MRI could be performed to determine the full scope of the injury.
Maxime Raynaud, supported by the Kings
Fearing the worst—as everyone did—the team’s general manager, Scott Perry, and owner Vivek Ranadive went to him to offer their support and affection. Meanwhile, team sources confirmed there is strong concern that the young center could be out for an undefined period.
Raynaud was preparing for a season designed to build on his breakout 2025-26 campaign, during which he earned a spot among the league’s top rookies by averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds across 74 games. He was expected to be a pivotal interior option off the bench behind Domantas Sabonis.
