The New Orleans Pelicans have had an interesting first two offseasons under Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver. Whether it was trading the team's unprotected 2026 first-round pick for Derik Queen, signing Kevon Looney, trading for Jordan Poole, or running back the same roster after a 26-win season. There has been zero shortage of things to complain about for Pelicans fans. However, the one thing that is acting as a human light at the end of a dark and ugly tunnel is Jeremiah Fears.
When Fears was drafted, there were a ton of concerns about how he would adjust to the NBA both physically and as a scorer because scouts believed he lacked the talent as a shooter to be an assassin at the guard spot. And to those evaluators' credit, to start the 2025-26 season, things didn’t look great for Fears. He was getting bullied, turning the ball over a lot, and so-so as a scorer. But over time, he just kept improving and becoming more confident, ending his rookie season on an impressive tear, averaging 31.8 points over his final five games.Â
Heading into a 2026-27 season where many fans don’t know what to expect, Fears is set to continue being a bright spot as his development into one of the league's best guards is on a perfect track to continue.
The Pelicans have given Fears the perfect development plan
Now, since Dumars and Weaver took over, there are a few things they’ve done that I haven't criticized or at least questioned, but one thing I believe they are doing perfectly is the development plan they have for Fears.
Let’s start with Dejounte Murray, who from day one has been the prime example of what being a leader on and off the court looks like. Having him around Fears every day is only making him more aware, competitive, mature, and a better leader.
When Murray came back and Fears went to the bench, we saw him play with more control and become way more decisive with his passes, likely because he got a courtside seat to watch one of the league's best playmakers. Aside from watching him, having a reliable guard ahead of him on the depth chart provides Fears with safety and takes a ton of pressure off him. Having another creator ahead of him allows Fears to focus on running the second unit rather than carrying the burden of the starters.
I don’t expect Fears to come off the bench all season, and I envision Jamahl Mosley experimenting at times with a Fears-Murray backcourt. That type of situation would take Fears off the ball and only force him to become more comfortable off in that role, particularly as a catch-and-shoot. Developing off-the-ball skills as a lead guard only makes roster building easier and creates lineup flexibility for the coaching staff.
Speaking of the coaching staff, having God Shammgod on the bench will only further Fears' development. Over his several years coaching both in college with Providence and across several NBA teams, he’s been a known developmental wizard, most recently being credited for Anthony Black’s breakout in Orlando. Having him work with Fears and instill confidence in him is going to be crucial in his development and adds to the argument that the Pelicans are doing everything they can to ensure he is developed properly.
The only thing Fears can control is how much work he’s willing to put in, and it doesn’t feel like that’ll be a problem. Every photo shared of Fears across social media this summer paints the picture of a gym rat. If that work continues to translate onto the court, he will be set to build on a killer rookie year in his sophomore season.
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