In a surprising turn of events, Stanford’s Maxime Raynaud was not selected on the first day of the 2025 NBA Draft. He was initially linked with the Boston Celtics, especially after Kristaps Porziņģis’ trade earlier this week, but the franchise instead picked Hugo Gonzalez out of Spain at No. 28.
In the mock drafts, Gonzalez was initially linked with the Utah Jazz as No. 21 overall. For him to end up in Boston comes as a shocker. Yet, questions arise about Raynaud’s status. After impressing everyone at the Draft combine, where is the 7’0″ French basketball phenom going to end up?
What Went Wrong With Maxime Raynaud’s NBA Draft?
Raynaud left Stanford as a unique forward in college basketball. With a 7’1″ wingspan, he averaged 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds last season in the ACC. He even knocked down more than 34% of his 3s on 5+ attempts per game.
As per scouting reports, Raynaud has impressive footwork, great passing abilities, and a polished scoring touch. He was someone who showed off all the offensive skills that inspire belief that he could be a rotational big man in the league.
He had a standout performance at the draft combine as well, with 20 points, nine rebounds, and three assists in 25 minutes. Yet, on draft night, he did not hear his name being called out in the first 30 picks. Why, you ask? There could be many reasons.
First, some critics and scouts flagged concerns about his physical strength and ability to guard strong centers in the league. One scouting report even claimed that he “struggles to score and defend through contact” and “can be reluctant to take outside shots.”
Even as he was producing eye-catching games and plays, like his 16 double-doubles, there were inconsistencies. Per scouting reports, he lacked that domination and the intensity needed, which can cause dips in the long run.
His average lateral quickness and lack of elite rim protection might have been the leading reason to diminish his chances on the first day of the draft. Teams that are looking for athletic big men who can impact the game from the first day might not have found him an appealing first-round pick.
Maxime Raynaud is another prospect with a lot of buzz heading into tomorrow’s second round.
The 7-foot stretch big has plenty of fans in NBA front offices as some scouts have thrown out fellow Stanford alum Brook Lopez as a potential ceiling outcome.pic.twitter.com/z9fYql68lF
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 26, 2025
At 22 years of age, Raynaud also came in with less perceived growth potential, as compared to other younger prospects. Teams often favor athletes whom they still consider to be evolving. They also prioritize players who are big men, burly guards, or feature great athletic wings or explosive energy. Considering how tight the first round was, Raynaud is likely suited for the second round, possibly with the Celtics.
