College career
Raynaud graduated from Lycée Henri-IV in his native Paris. Seeking to play college basketball in the United States, Raynaud committed to the Stanford Cardinal. [1] He established himself as a part of the Cardinal rotation under coach Jerod Haase in his first two seasons. As a junior in the 2023–24 season, Raynaud saw an increase in his productivity, averaging 15.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. He was named second-team All-Pac-12 and the Most Improved Player in the conference.
With the firing of Haase at the close of the season, Raynaud entered the transfer portal and considered leaving Stanford, but ultimately chose to remain and play for new coach Kyle Smith in Stanford's inaugural season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. [2] [3] At the close of the season, Raynaud was named the recipient of the Skip Prosser Award for top scholar-athlete in the ACC. [4]
Professional career
Raynaud was picked 42nd overall in the 2025 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings, and later signed a three-year rookie contract [5] on July 3, 2025. [6] On November 4, 2025, the Kings assigned Raynaud to the Stockton Kings of the NBA G-League. [7] [8] After appearing only sparingly during the first fifteen games of the season, Raynaud earned increased playing time following an injury to Domantas Sabonis, gradually working his way into the Kings' frontcourt rotation. Beginning on November 20, 2025, he doubled his scoring average from 5.2 to 10.5 points per game with a field-goal percentage of 55.6% [9] . On November 30, 2025, Raynaud posted what was then the best performance of his young NBA career, scoring 19 points against the Utah Jazz, including 16 points in the fourth quarter [10] . He credited veteran teammate Russell Westbrook for offering halftime guidance, encouraging him to “roll hard, move around the ball, and do the little things” to become more effective offensively. Westbrook described the exchange as an example of “quiet leadership,” reflecting his approach to mentoring younger players. Head coach Doug Christie also highlighted Westbrook’s involvement, noting that the former MVP regularly participates in technical sessions with the team’s big men [10] . Raynaud continued his rise a few days later: on December 4, 2025, he recorded 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists against the Houston Rockets, prompting Christie to consider starting him [9] . He made his first NBA start on December 6, 2025, against the Miami Heat, registering a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) with two blocks and no turnovers in a Kings victory [9] .
Christie described Raynaud as a “sponge” for his ability to absorb coaching quickly, praising his game understanding, positioning, and defensive awareness. Raynaud himself noted growing on-court chemistry with his teammates: “I know where I have to be and when… It’s easier now than on the first day of training camp” [9] .
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