dailyloe.com – Sacramento Kings rookie Maxime Raynaud was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for March. The NBA announced the honor on Thursday, April 3, 2026. Raynaud, a second-round draft pick, delivered exceptional performances throughout the month.
He averaged 17.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game in March. Raynaud started all 15 games he played, logging 33 minutes per contest. His shooting was highly efficient, hitting 59% from the field.
The center recorded six 20-point games, including two 30-point outings. He also led all rookies with six double-doubles during the month. Raynaud scored a career-high 32 points against the San Antonio Spurs on March 17.
He followed that with a 30-point game against the Philadelphia 76ers two days later. This made him the fourth rookie in Kings history with consecutive 30-point games. He is the first Sacramento rookie to achieve this since Walt Williams in 1993.
Raynaud joined Cooper Flagg as one of two rookies with back-to-back 30-point games this season. His March totals reached 268 points and 128 rebounds. This placed him among an elite historical group.
He is one of three rookies ever with 250+ points and 125+ rebounds on 59% shooting. The other two are legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Otis Thorpe. This underscores the rarity of his productive efficiency.
Overall for the season, Raynaud averages 11.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He shoots 56% from the field and 78% from the free-throw line. He ranks highly in several key rookie statistical categories.
Raynaud currently leads all rookies with 17 double-doubles this season. He is second in total rebounds with 507 and seventh in total points with 822. He also ranks third in field goal percentage among first-year players.
He was selected 42nd overall by the Kings in the 2025 NBA Draft. Raynaud played college basketball for the Stanford Cardinal before turning professional. His immediate impact has exceeded expectations for a second-round selection.
Raynaud is ranked fourth in the latest USA TODAY Sports NBA Rookie Rankings. His consistent play has been a bright spot for the Sacramento franchise. The monthly award recognizes his standout performance during March.[]
Source: USA Today
