Maxime Raynaud was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for March after a run that gave Sacramento one of its few bright spots this season. The rookie, drafted 42nd overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, put up 17.9 points and 8.5 rebounds a game in March while playing 33 minutes per contest.
He did it over 15 games, shot 59% from the field and had two 30-point games, with six outings of at least 20 points. On the season, Raynaud is averaging 11.9 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 56% from the field.
The honor comes on March 19, 2026, the same day the Kings faced the Philadelphia 76ers at Golden 1 Center. For Sacramento, Raynaud’s rise has been one of the very few consistent positives as the season heads toward its April 12 finish.
That is what makes the award matter now: it is not just a monthly nod for a rookie playing bigger minutes, but another sign that Sacramento has found a player who has delivered even as the rest of the season has sputtered. The Kings do not have much time left to build on it, with only the final weeks before April 12 to turn individual progress into anything sturdier.
