Derik Queen received praise from Nikola Jokic on Wednesday night, with New Orleans Pelicans fans raising a few eyebrows. When asked if he sees something of himself in Queen, Jokic’s answer left no doubt. “I see, yes,” he said.
This is the player many consider the best in the world we are talking about here. For Jokic to say he sees real similarities between himself and the rookie from New Orleans speaks volumes about the kind of talent the Pelicans have on their hands.
“He’s got some moves,” Jokic said of Queen. “He’s unorthodox. Great touch, feel for the game. It’s good to see someone different.”
These comments come just a week and a half after former San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan also made some comments about the Pelicans rookie. New Orleans color commentator Antonio Daniels said during a broadcast that Duncan texted him during the game and said, “I really like that Queen guy.”
Derik Queen continues to receive praise from some of the game’s best players
All of this serves as a lot of validation for Pelicans fans who have been excited about Derik since day one. Clearly, New Orleans was unfairly criticized for trading up 10 spots to draft him while giving up its own 2026 first-round selection. That was seen as a significant overpayment at the time it happened, but that sentiment is losing steam every day.
Queen draws comparisons to a “baby Jokic” almost every time he touches the floor. His passing touch, feel for the game and positioning make him an extremely impactful player who is already changing the way opponents play against the Pelicans.
Derik also has his own unique elements to his game. He’s much more athletic than Denver’s No. 15 pick, and he can guard multiple positions effectively while also having more of a two-way impact in the game. He’s clearly already ahead of schedule when it comes to development, and that’s a very exciting idea for Pelicans fans.
Those in New Orleans were already beginning to recognize that they had a truly special player on their hands, but now Derik Queen will become much harder to ignore for the national audience as well. Receiving this kind of praise from multiple NBA legends only serves to further validate it
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