Sports Illustrated praises Kings 2025 rookies

Sports Illustrated used May 19 to look back at Sacramento’s 2025 draft class and gave the Kings an unusually upbeat review of a rookie group that included Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell. In a Kings-focused piece published Tuesday, the outlet said Sacramento’s class from “last summer” turned into “one of the best rookie trios in the NBA.” The article centered on three names who arrived by different paths. Sports Illustrated identified Clifford as a first-round selection, Raynaud as the No. 42 pick and Cardwell as an undrafted free agent who signed after the draft. A separate Sports Illustrated Kings article published Monday tied part of that development to veteran guard Russell Westbrook. (si.com) That piece said Westbrook was “instrumental” in helping bring along Clifford, Raynaud and Cardwell during the 2025-26 season. ### Why did this rookie class draw attention now? May 19 is close enough to the 2026 NBA Draft that Sacramento media has started grading the previous class, and Sports Illustrated framed the exercise as a check on whether the Kings should feel “panic, patience or assurance.” The answer in that piece leaned toward reassurance, with the outlet saying the franchise’s 2025 rookie group had already outperformed expectations. (si.com 1) (si.com 2) The timing also matters because Sacramento is entering another offseason with roster questions. Sports Illustrated has recently published separate pieces on Maxime Raynaud’s emergence and on whether the Kings should bring Westbrook back, placing the rookies inside a broader debate about the team’s next steps. ### What stands out most about Maxime Raynaud? (si.com) Maxime Raynaud’s draft slot is the cleanest shorthand for why Sacramento’s class is getting attention. Sports Illustrated said the Kings took the Stanford center at No. 42, and later described him as one of the biggest steals of the 2025 draft. The Kings’ official roster page lists Raynaud as a 7-foot-1 rookie center who appeared in 74 games and averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists. (si.com) Those numbers help explain why a second-round pick has moved into larger Kings roster conversations one year later. ### Where does Nique Clifford fit in that group? Nique Clifford entered with higher draft status than Raynaud. Roundtable and Sports Illustrated both identified Clifford as Sacramento’s No. 24 overall pick in the 2025 draft. (si.com) Roundtable’s season coverage said Clifford had become a steady contributor as injuries opened minutes, and cited averages of 7.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists while adding nearly a steal per game. (nba.com) In another report, Roundtable said Clifford’s late-season play had already put him into the Kings’ record books in one win over Memphis. ### How did Dylan Cardwell make the conversation as an undrafted player? (roundtable.io) Dylan Cardwell’s inclusion is notable because Sports Illustrated said he was not drafted at all. The May 19 piece described Sacramento as landing him after the draft and still ending up with a three-player rookie group that made a leaguewide impression. The Kings’ official roster page lists Cardwell as a rookie center who played 44 games and averaged 5.4 points and 7.5 rebounds. (roundtable.io) Sports Illustrated’s separate Westbrook story said Cardwell “took strides on offense” during the season. ### What did Sports Illustrated say about Westbrook’s role? Russell Westbrook joined Sacramento on Oct. 16, 2025, when the Kings announced the signing before opening night. By May 18, Sports Illustrated’s Kings site was arguing that his value extended beyond his own minutes because of his work with the team’s youngest players. (si.com) That article said Westbrook developed quick pick-and-roll chemistry with Raynaud and helped Cardwell’s offensive growth, while grouping Clifford with the same rookie cohort. (nba.com) Westbrook later said he would return “if I’m welcomed back,” according to another Sports Illustrated report published last month. ### What comes next for Sacramento’s young core? (nba.com) The 2026 NBA Draft is the next clear marker in this story. Sports Illustrated framed Tuesday’s piece as a pre-draft review of Sacramento’s 2025 class, and the Kings’ own roster page now presents Clifford, Raynaud and Cardwell as established members of the 2025-26 group. Sacramento’s next decisions will play out across the draft, free agency and roster-building around those young players. (si.com) For now, the most recent published evaluation from Sports Illustrated is that the Kings’ 2025 class has already given the franchise a stronger return than its draft positions alone suggested. (si.com)