Kings say Maxime Raynaud has kneecap subluxation, will be rechecked in two weeks

The Sacramento Kings said Sunday that Maxime Raynaud partially dislocated his right kneecap, a patellar subluxation, and that the center will be reevaluated in about two weeks, a diagnosis that is far milder than the scene at Chase Center first suggested but still likely keeps him out when the regular season begins.

A patellar subluxation means the kneecap slid partly out of its groove before settling back into place. Law Murray of The Athletic relayed the team’s update, and Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported the same diagnosis and the two-week checkpoint.

The update gives Sacramento some relief one day after Raynaud was wheeled off the floor. He went down late in the first half of Saturday’s 111-106 preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors after contact to the outside of his right knee on a screen. Coach Doug Christie called a timeout as trainers attended to him, and the Kings ruled him out after he was examined at halftime. Anthony Slater of ESPN reported at the time that people around the team feared a long absence, and Sean Cunningham of KCRA reported that Raynaud left the arena on crutches.

The team has not said whether any further procedure is planned or when it expects him back on the court. The two-week reevaluation is a checkpoint, not a return date.

A sharp start cut short

Raynaud had been productive in his short stint before the injury. In 8:48 against Golden State he scored 10 points on 3-of-3 shooting, including a made three, went 3-of-4 at the line and added five rebounds and a block. The full line is in the Game Center.

The 23-year-old Frenchman was the 42nd pick in the 2025 draft and outplayed that slot as a rookie. Over 74 appearances, 56 of them starts, he put up 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while playing 26.5 minutes a night, a season that earned him a place on the All-Rookie second team.

What it means for the Kings’ frontcourt

Sacramento had penciled Raynaud in as the main backup to Domantas Sabonis, so his absence thins the center rotation at the moment Christie is settling his opening-night group. Minutes behind Sabonis will have to come from elsewhere on the roster for at least the first stretch of the season.

Contractually, Sacramento owes him $2.15 million in guaranteed money this season and can keep him for 2027-28 by exercising a team option worth $2.5 million.

What comes next

The Kings return to the floor on Tuesday, October 13, when they host the Portland Trail Blazers at 10 p.m. ET (Game Center). Raynaud’s next medical evaluation is due in roughly two weeks. Follow the latest on the Kings team page and the league-wide injury report.