The New Orleans Pelicans remain winless in the James Borrego era after falling to the Denver Nuggets 125-118. Nikola Jokić did what he always does, stuffing the stat sheet with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 dimes, but there was someone on the Pelicans who looked like baby Jokić out there. Derik Queen. In a night where Zion Williamson made his return from an eight-game absence due to a hamstring injury, Queen’s play deserved to steal all the headlines.
The Pelicans' rookie big man finished the night with a career-high 30 points, nine rebounds, four assists, as well as two steals and two blocks.
Every time Queen steps on the court, he plays with more confidence and comfort than he did the night before. This performance from DQ not only stole the show but also highlighted the unreal All-Star potential he has.
For the majority of the Queen’s 30 minutes against Denver, he operated as an offensive hub, and when things ran through him, the team was flowing. His ability to not only be a threat scoring the ball but also setting up his teammates made it incredibly tough for the Nuggets to game-plan against.
It was funny to see Queen doing the same things offensively and causing the same issues for the Nuggets that Jokić does to his opponents on a nightly basis. It also highlighted how versatile an offense can be when you have a big man who can playmake and create for others the way Queen does.
Say what you want, but the Pelicans aced this Draft
People want to criticize the Pelicans' future and the decisions the front office made this summer. But one thing you can’t take away from them is that Troy Weaver and Joe Dumars knocked this Draft out of the park.
The team's two lottery picks, Queen and Jeremiah Fears, are looking like future All-Stars and rank in the top seven of the NBA's latest rookie ladder. And second-round pick Micah Peavy is playing like someone who is just going to stick in the NBA because of his elite talent on the defensive end. It’s obvious that just 15 games into the season, they went three-for-three in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Fears finished the night against Denver with 16 points, three rebounds, and one assist on 46.7 percent shooting from the field. Peavy had nine points, three rebounds, and one assist, while also giving an unreal effort defensively.
Wednesday night, the Pelicans' rookies proved they belong, and they are the future of New Orleans basketball. So no matter how doom-and-gloom things may look right now, as long as Queen, Peavy, and Fears are at the helm, the franchise is in good hands.