On Monday, March 24, 2025, the New Orleans Pelicans won their 20th game of the season but lost the tank-off to the Philadelphia 76ers. Both teams tried their best to give this one away and further slide down the standings towards better draft lottery odds, but the Sixers got the upper hand (or the lower one?), as the Pels emerged victorious, 112-99.
New Orleans held out CJ McCollum and Bruce Brown Jr. out for "rest" against Philly, but it's pretty clear that they wanted to increase the likelihood that they'd lose the game. Zion Williamson was also sidelined, but he at least had a real injury designation, missing his third game in a row due to a lower back contusion.
Many NBA fans are understandably frustrated with the roster manipulation that the Pelicans and the 76ers just displayed, as well as the overall tanking and load management issues with the league. That said, there are some silver linings to teams shifting down a gear toward the end of the season in pursuit of lottery odds rather than wins. For example, while fans missed out on seeing players like Zion, CJ, and Tyrese Maxey, several fringe NBA players hoping to carve out a niche for themselves in the big leagues got a chance to showcase their talents in this game, including recent Pelicans' call-up, Lester Quinones.
Lester Quinones made his Pelicans debut against the Philadelphia 76ers
Because of all of the Pelicans' absences, New Orleans called up Lester Quinones from the Birmingham Squadron and announced it on Monday. He'd go on to play in their game against the Sixers later that day, finishing with five points on 2-3 shooting and a steal in 11 minutes of action.
That outing marked his fifth NBA appearance of the season, as he played in four games earlier this year, coincidentally for Philadelphia. Before this year, Quinones had racked up 41 total games played for the Golden State Warriors through two seasons. So far in his professional career, he's shown that he can hang with NBA players but hasn't exactly found a lasting role in the big leagues. That could change soon though, not only because of this latest opportunity with the Pelicans but also because of his time with their G-League affiliate, the Squadron.
Speaking with RG's Grant Asfeth, Quinones stated that Birmingham Head Coach T.J. Saint has been having him play point guard more instead of his typical role as an off-guard play-finisher. He stated that Saint specifically chose this shift as a way for Quinones to further cultivate his game:
"Coach has had me at the one more in the last 10 to 12 games — playing more point guard and having the ball in my hands. He’s emphasized making the right decisions."
He's seen how sliding over a position and becoming more of a table setter can change the game for him.
Going from being the leading scorer to playing point guard opens up new windows and new avenues in terms of how teams guard me,” Quiñones said. “I’m seeing new reads and new looks that I’m not used to seeing when I’m on the wing.”
Even if he doesn't become a full-time point guard, picking up on these additional playmaking skills and expanding his game will only help him pursue a consistent future in the NBA. Plus, the Pelicans have learned this season that they could desperately use another ball-handler who's capable of collapsing defenses and opening up opportunities for other players. Coach T.J. Saint and the Squadron may have just grown the perfect backup guard for New Orleans in house.