Pelicans' Dejounte Murray Sees 'Something Special' in Rookies Derik Queen, Jeremiah Fears

Murray praises the maturity and potential of the young Pelicans duo after their strong performances in a win over the Warriors.

Feb. 25, 2026 at 11:18pm

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After making his season debut for the New Orleans Pelicans, veteran point guard Dejounte Murray was quick to shift the spotlight to the team's impressive rookie duo of Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears. Murray praised the energy and maturity the young players brought off the bench during a pivotal third-quarter stretch that helped the Pelicans secure the victory over the Golden State Warriors. Despite the team's struggles this season, Murray sees the foundation being laid for a promising future in New Orleans.

Why it matters

The Pelicans have struggled this season and are lottery-bound, but the development of their young core has emerged as a bright spot. Murray's endorsement of Queen and Fears suggests the team may have found two building blocks for the future, which could be crucial for a franchise that has often searched for stability.

The details

In his season debut, Murray delivered a vintage performance with 13 points, three assists, and two rebounds in 25 minutes. However, it was the energy and play of rookies Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears during a pivotal third-quarter stretch that impressed Murray the most. The veteran praised the young duo for their maturity in handling changes to their roles and their commitment to winning, rather than individual stats. Murray believes the Pelicans' young core, which also includes players like Herb Jones, has the potential to be 'really special' if they continue to develop together.

  • Dejounte Murray made his season debut for the Pelicans on February 25, 2026.

The players

Dejounte Murray

A veteran point guard for the New Orleans Pelicans who is in his first season with the team after being traded from the San Antonio Spurs.

Derik Queen

A rookie forward for the New Orleans Pelicans who is averaging 12.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.

Jeremiah Fears

A rookie guard for the New Orleans Pelicans who is averaging 13.3 points and 3.1 assists per game.

Herb Jones

A second-year forward for the New Orleans Pelicans known for his defensive intensity and team-first mentality.

James Borrego

The head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans, who is navigating the team through a challenging season plagued by injuries.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, we needed it though. We had some battles in practice. Just to have a game like that where we came out hot, looked really well to start the game, but then we had some adversity to get through. Shout out to that third quarter. Our young group came in, and they won that quarter. They played really well to put us in a position to win tonight. At the end of the day, we've just got to be together and do it together.”

— Dejounte Murray (ClutchPoints)

“A lot. Because, as I said, I want to make everybody's jobs easier, and that's going to rub off on them. But there are guys who already feel that way. You know, you got a guy like Herb Jones that don't ask the coach to draw a play up for him. He's always active on offense. He sees what no one see defense, he's active. Everybody knows him for that.”

— Dejounte Murray (ClutchPoints)

“We do like each other. There's no egos. There's nobody pouting. You had young guys starting, then they went to the bench. They took it, you know, like they should have taken it, and I give a lot of credit to them for that. So, that speaks volumes of maturity and what they're in for. And we're all here to win and longevity, you know, is a key for everybody.”

— Dejounte Murray (ClutchPoints)

What’s next

The Pelicans will look to continue developing their young core, including Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears, as they navigate the remainder of the season and aim to build a sustainable foundation for the future.

The takeaway

Despite the Pelicans' struggles this season, the emergence of their rookie duo of Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears, along with the veteran leadership of Dejounte Murray, suggests the team may have found a promising core to build around for the long term. Their ability to develop chemistry and maturity could be crucial for a franchise seeking stability.