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Maxime Raynaud has been playing a larger role with the Sacramento Kings lately, and coach Doug Christie believes those minutes have been valuable for his development.
Raynaud registered his sixth double-double on Tuesday, recording 12 points, 12 rebounds and two blocked shots in a 131-90 loss against the LA Clippers. He went 5-of-8 from the field in 35 minutes as the Kings finished December with a 3-9 record.
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The 42nd pick has matched up with some of the top big men in the league, which has served as a tremendous learning opportunity for him. He is learning crucial lessons each night, which Christie says is key to growing as a player on the court.
"You got to get beat up a little bit to really take pride in it," Christie said. "To understand what the weight room means, what balance and leverage mean, what doing your work early means (and) understanding what communicating early to your teammate means. These are things that he has had a lot of flashes of brilliance, but to be the player that we think that he can, he has got to go through it."
Raynaud is averaging 10.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and one assist on 33.3% shooting from 3-point range in 25 appearances with the Kings. He is ninth in scoring among all first-year players and is tied for the lead in double-doubles.
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The 7-footer has started the last 11 games, averaging 14.6 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 56.5% from the field. He has each of his double-doubles as a starter, becoming the first Kings rookie since Marvin Bagley III to register six in a season (2018-19).
Raynaud has impressed throughout the season, prompting his move into the starting lineup. The team has been pleased with his production and is eager to watch his continued development.
"He has impressed me so much: All of the little push shots in the lane, the poise that he plays with," Christie said. "When he comes out of the game, he comes right to me and we talk real quick about what it was, what you saw, why you went for that pump-fake. Those lessons, we can tell him until we're blue in the face, but until they go out there and they feel it for themselves, it is hard for them to grasp it."
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Kings news: Doug Christie reveals the areas Maxime Raynaud must master
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