Raynaud, a 23-year-old entering his second professional season, immediately collapsed to the floor in visible pain following the contact. Medical personnel attended to him on the court for several minutes before he was assisted into a wheelchair to head to the locker room. Kings general manager Scott Perry accompanied him, and team owner Vivek Ranadive later checked on the player outside the locker room. Raynaud was eventually seen leaving the arena on crutches with an ice pack on his knee, though he appeared to be in good spirits.
Injury impact and team reaction
Before his premature exit, Raynaud had been highly efficient, contributing 10 points, five rebounds, an assist, and a blocked shot in just under nine minutes of play. He had been perfect from the field, hitting all three of his attempts, including a three-pointer, while also converting three free throws. The center stated he was heading for an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, with no immediate medical update provided by the team.
The injury cast a shadow over the return of veteran forward Ben Simmons, who was making his first appearance for the Kings in over a year following a lengthy absence due to a chronic back injury. Reflecting on the incident, Simmons expressed empathy for his teammate, noting that he understands the emotional toll of suffering an injury. Kings coach Doug Christie declined to speculate on the long-term outlook for Raynaud, emphasizing the team's support for the French player, who was selected 42nd overall in last year’s draft.
Raynaud established himself as a key rotation piece during his rookie campaign, averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds across 74 appearances. His performance throughout the current preseason had shown continued development, with the center averaging 9.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists alongside his scoring output. The Kings will now await the results of medical imaging to understand the extent of the setback for their young interior presence.
