Pelicans' Rookie Derik Queen Gaining Respect of Teammates and Peers

The former Maryland star is showing why he was worthy of the Pelicans' major move to acquire him on draft night.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Fresh off an NBA Rising Star championship, New Orleans Pelicans rookie Derik Queen will now prepare for the final 26 games of the regular season. The Pelicans have long been out of contention for any playoff aspirations, but this final stretch of games is important for the young center. Queen has done his best to dispel the negative connection with his acquisition by New Orleans on draft night.

Why it matters

Critics slammed the Pelicans for trading an unprotected first-round pick next season to the Atlanta Hawks. After coming off their worst season in 19 years, the premise of giving up a future prized asset without protections seemed foolish, since most believed New Orleans would be near the bottom of the Western Conference again. However, Queen's play is impressing his teammates and putting the NBA on notice of his immense talents.

The details

Offensively, Queen has been especially productive in the first part of this season. The 6-foot-8 forward is first among NBA rookies in field goal percentage (49%) among those who have at least 375 attempts. He's second in overall rebounds and assists amongst rookies. Queen has had his struggles on the defensive end, but has flashed playmaking potential, averaging one steal and a block per game.

  • Queen became the first rookie center in league history to record a 30-point triple-double in a game.

The players

Derik Queen

A 20-year-old rookie center for the New Orleans Pelicans, known for his impressive offensive skills and playmaking ability.

Trey Murphy III

A Pelicans forward who praised Queen's talent and performance after a game in Cleveland.

Rudy Gobert

The four-time Defensive Player of the Year who gave Queen praise after a game, saying he looks "comfortable" on the court at his young age.

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What they’re saying

“He's really f—ng good.”

— Trey Murphy III, Pelicans forward (R.Org)

“Sorry to curse, but he's really f—g good. As much as I talk s—t about him, I try to uplift him as well because what he's doing is really special. It's really dope.”

— Trey Murphy III, Pelicans forward (R.Org)

“He looks "comfortable" on the court at just 20 years of age. He also mentioned how fun it is to watch him on the court.”

— Rudy Gobert, Four-time Defensive Player of the Year (Terry Kimble)

What’s next

Queen has been praised for his feel for the game offensively, often compared to Denver Nuggets megastar Nikola Jokic because of both players' ability to impact the game without relying on high-level athleticism. The rising star's development is crucial to the Pelicans' success, and the team should prioritize his playing time for the rest of the season.

The takeaway

Despite the Pelicans' struggles this season, Derik Queen's impressive rookie campaign has earned him the respect of his teammates and peers around the league, validating the team's decision to trade a future first-round pick to acquire him on draft night.