Brandon Boston Jr. is coming off an incredible first year as a Pelican and has slowly become one of the most underrated players in the NBA. The 23-year-old has dealt with his fair share of ups and downs in his basketball career. He went from being the fourth-ranked recruit in the 2020 class to a second-round pick. But Boston has faced that adversity head-on, putting in the work to get where he is today with the Pelicans.
The breakout
During the 2024-25 season, New Orleans rostered 25 different players because of the many injuries they dealt with. One of those guys happened to be BJ, who seized the opportunity and ran with it. In his 44 games, he averaged a career-best 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals. Boston was able to show off his unique skill set in this expanded role with the Pels.
He has excellent ball control and a solid handle for someone standing 6'7". This allows him to create his own shot using advanced dribble combos to create space and generate clean looks. He plays with an impressive pace, but instead of simply speeding past defenders, he breaks them down slowly, waiting for them to slip before making his move.
That same handle also elevates his playmaking. With so many injuries last season, Boston was forced into an offensive initiator role, and he thrived. His ability to set up teammates, especially out of the pick-and-roll, was impressive for a wing. His calmness as a ball handler helped take pressure off the team’s guards and showed his ability to run an offense.
Boston's lightning-quick release made it easier for him to be a good catch-and-shooter. Given Boston's guard-like offensive package, many suggest he could play a lot of minutes at point guard to start the 2025-26 season because Dejounte Murray will be on the sidelines.
Defense and disruption
He uses his 6'10 wingspan to jump passes and start fastbreak opportunities. He ranked in the 89th percentile in steal percentage among forwards, showing just how impactful he can be on that end. BJ still has a relatively thin frame at only 185 pounds, and if he can continue to add muscle to it, he will only get better as a defender.
What is coming next
The 2025-26 campaign will be a big one for BJ. Playing on a one-year deal, he'll be looking to prove himself not just to the Pelicans but to the rest of the league, so expect a bit of a jump. With the Pelicans' current bench construction, it looks like BJ may be their most reliable scorer. If Boston is given the keys to the Pelicans' second unit, there's a good chance he has a Sixth-Man-of-the-Year caliber season.
He embodies everything you'd want in a modern Sixth Man, dynamic, unselfish, and capable of heating up in a hurry. It might be a costly mistake for Willie Green to give this role to anyone else. Boston has shown he’s ready, and now it’s time to see what he can do with the spotlight.