The New Orleans Pelicans currently sit at the bottom of the Western Conference with a record of 2 wins and 15 losses. Their season has been rough, culminating in the dismissal of head coach Willie Green. Compounding their challenges, the Pelicans sold their 2026 first-round draft pick to the Atlanta Hawks in order to move up in the 2025 NBA Draft and select rookie Derrick Queen.
Since being drafted, Queen has faced tremendous pressure due to the high price the Pelicans paid, but he has responded with promising performances. The young player, only 20 years old, has shown strong potential, highlighted by impressive stats in recent games. Against the Denver Nuggets, Queen scored 30 points, grabbed nine rebounds, provided four assists, and made two blocks and two steals. He followed this up with 20 points in back-to-back games versus the Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks, nearly securing a triple-double against Dallas by falling just three rebounds short.
Despite the team’s struggles, Queen appears to be a foundational piece for New Orleans’s future. He has benefited from close mentorship by veteran DeAndre Jordan, who has taken an active role in guiding the young player both on and off the court. Jordan’s supportive presence was even captured in courtside footage shared on social media, showcasing their strong mentor-mentee relationship. Jordan has proved to be an ideal mentor, offering encouragement and advice that have helped Queen grow amid the pressures of an NBA rookie season.
Queen’s performances have drawn comparisons to star player Nikola Jokic, hinting at his potential to develop into an impactful player. With Jordan’s guidance and Queen’s evident talent, the Pelicans may have uncovered a key figure to build their team around moving forward.
Fan Take: Derrick Queen’s emergence as a promising talent despite the Pelicans’ tough season highlights the importance of nurturing young players through strong mentorship. For basketball fans, this developing story is exciting because Queen could become one of the NBA’s future stars, showcasing how rebuilding teams can cultivate new talent and reshape the league’s landscape.
