With the preseason finally here, we actually have something new to evaluate and watch when it comes to the New Orleans -Pelikans. I recently wrote about the decision that head coach Willie Green will have to make when it comes to the starting center place: will he go with the veteran in Kevon Looney, or will he go with the second -year -old man Yves Missi? And although these two are the centers that steal all the headlines for this team, I want to shine some light on Karlo Matković.
The 24-year-old big man enters the NBA in 2025-26 in the NBA. He has a unique skills such as a solid athlete, floor fellow, good rebounder and solid defender, all while he is 6’10 ”.
Because Derik Queen is sidelined by the training camp and probably the start of the regular season due to a wrist injury, Matković had the opportunity to earn a place in the big rotation of New Orleans. And he made the best of it.
During some of the content of the training camp, the social team of the pelicans were rolled out that Matkovic played the five With the expected startersZion Williamson, Herb Jones, Jordan Poole and Trey Murphy III. We have seen it too Looney mentioned Matkovic During some of his availability of media.
There is no reason for Willie Green to waste time with Matković in practice with the starter if it is not a line that he is planning to run this year. There is also zero reason for Looney to name Matković if he is not someone who stands out during practices and scrimmages.
Could he be a staple in the rotation this season?
In the Summer League opener of the Pelicans against Melbourne United, Matković was really solid and ended the game with 6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block and 1 stealing in 16 minutes. This Stat line is a perfect example of the type of player that Matković is in his career on this point; He is someone who has a versatile skills with which he can influence the game in different ways.
In this game he shot 0/2 from outside, but that is not a bad thing. It shows that he has faith in his shot and is trusted by the coaching staff to make it fly of three. Last season in his seven starts, he shot 38 percent of three.
Where Matković is a solid defender and one floor -spotI think he will get a lot of run this season. His playing style enables him to fit in an abundance of different line combinations.
He can play the four in a situation in which the pelicans run twice or play the five if they want some floor distance. He brings something that New Orleans does not have from the bank, so that this season he could make a staple in the rotation of Green.
I am extremely hyped to see what Karlo Matković can do for the Pelicans in the rest of the preseason, because it looks like they have a diamond in the rough.
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