France calls up rookie Maxime Raynaud to senior squad for July FIBA World Cup qualifiers

France coach Frederic Fauthoux has called up Sacramento Kings rookie Maxime Raynaud to the senior national team for July’s 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifying window, according to French media reports published on May 22. The 16-man group includes Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier and does not include Victor Wembanyama. French outlets including Le Figaro, Ouest-France and Le Parisien described Raynaud as the only new player in the squad and said it was his first senior call-up. ### Who exactly did France call in for July? Frédéric Fauthoux unveiled a 16-player list for a July camp and two World Cup qualifiers against Belgium and Finland, French reports said. Le Figaro said the squad was assembled for the early-July window in the 2027 FIBA World Cup European qualifiers, while Eurohoops said the French federation revealed the roster on Friday. (lefigaro.fr) Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier were among the veteran names included. Ouest-France and Basket USA also reported that the group features several established internationals, with Raynaud the lone newcomer. (lefigaro.fr) ### Why is Raynaud’s inclusion getting attention? Maxime Raynaud is set for his first senior France involvement after his rookie NBA season with Sacramento. Le Parisien said the July selection marked a “première” for Raynaud with the senior side, and Eurohoops likewise described him as a first-time call-up. (ouest-france.fr) The 22-year-old center enters the summer after making the NBA’s 2025-26 All-Rookie Second Team. The Sacramento Kings said on May 20 that Raynaud became the 22nd player in franchise history to earn All-Rookie honors and the eighth to make the second team. ### What did he do in his rookie NBA season? (leparisien.fr) Sacramento’s official release said Raynaud was voted to the All-Rookie Second Team after his first NBA season. NBC Bay Area reported that the second-round pick’s first year “paid off” with the selection, underscoring how unusual that recognition was for a player drafted outside the first round. (nba.com) Basketball-Reference lists Raynaud as the No. 42 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft out of Stanford. French and U.S. coverage around his All-Rookie selection has consistently tied the France call-up to that draft position and his quick progress in Sacramento. ESPN’s season stat page lists Raynaud at 11.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in 2025-26. (nba.com) Some social and secondary reports cited higher figures, but the ESPN season page available in search results showed those regular-season averages. ### Why isn’t Wembanyama on this roster? Victor Wembanyama was not included in the 16-man group, according to Le Figaro and other French outlets. (basketball-reference.com) Sport365 said Wembanyama was absent while playing in the Western Conference finals, and Le Figaro framed the roster as one announced without him. (africa.espn.com) Le Parisien said Fauthoux would be without Wembanyama for the July matches while naming Gobert, Fournier and Raynaud in the squad. The reports did not present Raynaud as a direct replacement, but his inclusion comes in a frontcourt group that will prepare for the same window. (lefigaro.fr) ### What happens next for France and Raynaud? France are scheduled to play Belgium and Finland in the July qualifying window for the 2027 FIBA World Cup, according to Le Figaro, Ouest-France and Eurohoops. The 16 selected players are expected to report for a preparatory camp before those games. (leparisien.fr) July will give Raynaud his first chance to appear with France’s senior team alongside Gobert and Fournier. The next formal step is the training camp attached to that qualifying window, followed by the two qualifiers against Belgium and Finland. (ouest-france.fr) (lefigaro.fr)