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Maxime Raynaud 2025 NBA Draft Profile
Featured image: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Some players enter college and immediately show their potential. Others take more seasoning. After four years at Stanford, Maxime Raynaud has developed into an interesting 2025 NBA Draft prospect. The 7-foot-1 center from France had good showings at the NBA combine and looks to ride that momentum into the draft.

Maxime Raynaud 2025 NBA Draft Profile

College Career

Raynaud began his career at Stanford, coming off the bench, only averaging 12.0 minutes per game. Even in such a short time, he showed his potential, averaging 4.5 points and 3.8 rebounds on 54.1% from the field and 42.3% from three. Those averages increased to 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds in 22.4 minutes per game. He struggled from three but continued to boast a strong efficiency around the basket.

Raynaud entered the NBA draft conversation during his junior year. The Frenchman averaged 15.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game as a full-time starter. He found his three-point stroke again and stayed efficient around the basket. He earned All-Pac-12 honors for his season. His senior year saw more of an improvement, as he averaged 20.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while solidifying his defensive presence with 1.4 blocks. Raynaud started the year in the ACC Player of the Year race. He fell out of contention but still received All-ACC honors. Raynaud never saw as much team success, but he finished his career as one of Stanford’s best players in recent memory.

Strengths

Raynaud is a tall and strong center who can carve out space beneath the basket. He averaged 12.7 rebounds per 40 minutes, showing his ability to fight for space using his size. At the same time, he uses that positioning to earn himself easier baskets around the rim, shooting 57.4% from two throughout his college career. He also added rim protection this past season to make him a strong player under the basket on both sides of the ball.

However, what makes Raynaud an intriguing NBA Draft prospect is his ability to stretch the floor. He shoots threes at an impressive 34.7% for his career. At 7-foot-1, most players won’t be able to get any kind of late contest on his shot, so it was shooting practice for Raynaud. He also improved to shoot 77.0% from the free throw line, making sure his opponents couldn’t foul him to reduce the chances of scoring. His elite pump fake is the only thing that gives him the upper hand when driving to the basket with his athleticism.

Weaknesses

Raynaud is athletic enough to be a good NBA prospect, but he doesn’t have the athleticism that allows players of his size to make an easy transition to the NBA. Raynaud has an effective shot, so players have to close out strong, but he doesn’t have the threat of a dynamic drive to create space without a ball fake. That mobility also makes him a liability at the defensive end. He can’t sit in the paint for longer than three seconds to contest a shot. Raynaud doesn’t have the recovery speed and quickness to make a consistent difference from the opposite block, despite a clear improvement this past season. If Raynaud were slightly more athletic, he would be a lottery pick with his skills.

Raynaud also struggles with his shooting form. In college, he could get away with shooting so deliberately. However, with taller and more athletic players in the NBA, he will need to get the ball up earlier. It’s a small “weakness” but one that can be remedied with minor coaching. He could also work on his passing and dribbling to make a seamless transition to the NBA. His assist/turnover ratio of 0.68 for his career is troubling. However, a better team around him could make a big difference.

NBA Comparison

Raynaud is an interesting player for this NBA Draft, but he doesn’t have an incredibly high ceiling. Brook Lopez is a good comparison. Lopez developed a three-ball over time, but has a stronger rim presence defensively. Raynaud projects to be a role player who could leap into a starting lineup with some improvement.

2025 NBA Draft Prediction

One team may take a chance on Raynaud late in the first round. He will be drafted no later than early in the second round.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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