From shining like a rookie to setting off alarms: the Kings fear a serious injury

Sacramento Kings fear losing Maxime Raynaud for an indefinite period after the center suffered a right knee injury during Saturday night's preseason game against the Golden State Warriors. The French big man had to leave the court in a wheelchair after a dramatic incident at the end of the first half, in a scene that raised significant concern within the California franchise.

At the moment, the Kings have not provided an official diagnosis regarding the extent of the injury. Raynaud spent halftime undergoing medical tests at the Chase Center, and the team confirmed at the beginning of the third quarter that he would not return to play. He is set to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the issue with his right knee.

Raynaud collapses after a collision and leaves the court in a wheelchair

The injury occurred when Raynaud was setting a screen for rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr., in a play where Stephen Curry was defending for Golden State. During the contact between the players, the center took a hit to the outside of his right knee. His reaction was immediate: he screamed in pain and fell to the ground.

Concern quickly grew as it became difficult for the player to get up. Doug Christie, the coach of Sacramento, called a timeout and approached the center of the court to check on his player. Raynaud remained lying on the floor, covering his face with his hands as his teammates approached to inquire about his condition.

The Kings' medical staff requested a wheelchair to transport the center to the locker room. The scene painted a worrying picture for Sacramento, which saw one of its young big men leave the game unable to continue on his own.

During halftime, Raynaud underwent medical tests at the Chase Center facilities. At the beginning of the third quarter, the franchise officially confirmed that the player would not return to the court due to the injury to his right knee.

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The Kings await the results of medical tests

After the initial examinations, Raynaud was wheeled from the X-ray room to the area outside the visiting locker room. There, he received a visit from Scott Perry, the Kings' general manager, and Vivek Ranadive, the franchise owner.

Ranadive embraced the player in a moment of evident concern for his condition. According to team sources, there was growing fear that Sacramento could lose its young center for an indefinite period.

However, the franchise did not communicate a definitive diagnosis after the game. The main reference for understanding the extent of the injury will be the MRI scheduled for late Saturday. Until the results are known, it is not possible to determine how long he might be sidelined.

A setback for Sacramento's interior play

Raynaud's potential absence is a concern for the Kings regarding the role he was set to play at the start of the season. The center had completed a remarkable rookie campaign and was expected to have an important role as a backup to Domantas Sabonis, the starter at the five position.

Raynaud was included in the NBA's second All-Rookie team after averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in 74 games last season. These numbers reinforced the impression that Sacramento had found a valuable piece in the draft, where they selected him at number 42.

His performance allowed him to earn a spot in the rotation and enter his second year with high expectations. The franchise counted on him to give Sabonis a rest and maintain options in the interior game.

Now, the Kings will have to wait for the medical results to know the consequences of the injury. Raynaud's fall and his departure in a wheelchair have raised alarms, but the definitive extent of the issue remains unconfirmed. The MRI will be crucial in determining whether the center can return soon or if Sacramento will have to face a prolonged absence.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, De brillar como rookie a encender las alarmas: los Kings temen una grave lesión