Opening night did not go as the New Orleans Pelicans had hoped, as they lost 128-122 to the Memphis Grizzlies. There is one big positive side though: their rookie class looks phenomenal. Of the two rookies who played, Jeremiah Fears really stood out and looked like a future All-Star. But first let’s look at what Derik Queen did.
Even though Queen shot a fourth from the field, he still impressed me with his three points and five rebounds. He was a monster on the glass, helping generate second-chance opportunities on offense at times, and we even saw him show the point guard-like skills he has when he went coast-to-coast late in the third quarter. Even though he missed three shots, they were quality looks that he will be able to make over time.
Now the star of the show, Mr. Zero Fears – what a performance: he ranked second on the team in points with 17 off the bench, and led the team in efficiency from the field at 70 percent. He used his burst and alertness from the point to make Grizzlies defenders look foolish. That night he shot 5/6 at the rim, which is very encouraging for someone who is only 6-foot-4 and 170 pounds.
It’s only up from here
Even after a 17-point performance, it’s clear there’s another level to his game. With more than half of his shot attempts reaching the basket, imagine how much more lethal his game will be if he improves his three-point shooting. He already causes attacks on opponents without being a real threat from range, so adding that makes him unguardable.
The same goes for Queen, who haven’t been part of a real game since July and were more or less thrown into the fire against Memphis, but still put in a solid performance. With Yves Missi joining Karlo Matkovic and Kevon Looney on the injury front, DQ could very well be a starter in the home opener against San Antonio.
This offseason we heard Joe Dumars talk about not putting too much pressure on the rookies and giving them time to develop and grow. But it’s clear that they’ve already earned the trust of both their head coach and their front office, with Fears being the team’s clear backup point guard and Queen likely to step into a central role soon.
The future in New Orleans is so bright it’s blinding, and that’s not just because of Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy and Herb Jones, but also because of their 2025 rookie class.
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