That's it. The New Orleans Pelicans 2025-26 season is over just like that. A 26-56 record, finishing 11th in the Western Conference, and while the team never really got to reach its full potential, a lot was learned about the future of New Orleans basketball this season.
The biggest lesson the Pelicans faithful learned this season was that the time is now to move on from Zion Williamson, as Derik Queen is the future of this franchise. And if anyone was still questioning whether Queen is the future, the performance he gave in New Orleans’ final game of the season against the Minnesota Timberwolves should have changed that.
In the final game of Queen's rookie campaign, he posted 30 points, 22 rebounds, and 4 assists, with one steal and one block. This was DQ's first 30/20 game of his career, and it made him the first Pelican since DeMarcus Cousins in 2017-18. This game further highlighted that when given the runway and touches to be a star, he can be a special young player.
Queen proved he's the future
Sure, for those who may have just checked the box score, Queen's 30/20 game may not seem as impressive when you see he shot sub-40 percent, going 11-for-28 from the field. However, this game wasn’t about makes or misses. It was about the potential Queen flashed and the preview he gave fans of what a future around him could look like. This was Queen's first game of his NBA career, where he really just got to do what he did in college, less structure and way more freedom, and while at times shots didn’t fall, he still found a way to make history with a 30/20 game.
There's no better way Queen could've ended his rookie campaign than by becoming the first rookie since 2023-24 to have a 30/20 game, when Victor Wembanyama did it.
Seeing as Zion Williamson is likely out the door this offseason, the runway for Queen to rock out on his own in the frontcourt will be there in his sophomore campaign. With expanded touches and opportunities, more big-time performances will come like the one he had on Sunday night. That, paired with the work he'll be doing to improve his game this summer, will make those types of nights only become more dominant in his second season.
The Pelicans have clearly found their lead guard of the future in Jeremiah Fears. Queen’s performance against the Timberwolves only further solidified his spot alongside his fellow rookie.