Jeremiah Fears is wasting no time making his case in New Orleans.
After an All-Rookie Second Team season, the Pelicans guard opened preseason looking sharper, stronger and far more comfortable than a year ago. The early returns suggest Fears could be headed for a real sophomore jump, and maybe even force a rethink of how New Orleans handles its backcourt minutes.
Shooting has been one of the main questions surrounding him since he arrived in the league. Last season, Fears hit 33% from three and 43% overall, then openly acknowledged he ran into the rookie wall.
His season followed that arc. He entered the starting lineup three games into the year, stayed there until late January, then spent most of the rest of the season coming off the bench.
Before that demotion, he struggled badly over his final five starts, averaging 9.4 points while connecting on just 18% of his threes.
But once the grind eased up and his role changed, Fears found another gear. He came back late in the year and then exploded in April, averaging 30 points per game while shooting around 50% from the field. That month included a franchise-record 40 points for a rookie and made him the youngest guard in NBA history to reach that mark.
The offseason focus was clear: get bigger. Fears reportedly showed up to camp at about 188 pounds, roughly 10 pounds heavier than last season.
That extra bulk could be a big deal for a player whose game is built on speed and burst. Last year, his lighter frame made it tougher to absorb contact, draw fouls and finish when defenders got into him.
So far, the body work is showing up on the floor.
In New Orleans’ 116-110 come-from-behind win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, Fears came off the bench and delivered 12 points in 17 minutes on 50% shooting, along with a +17. He also got to the line six times, twice his season average from last year. If that becomes a regular part of his game, he’ll be tough to keep off the floor in crunch time.
He followed that up with another strong outing against the Miami Heat, starting and putting up 11 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Through two preseason games, he’s shooting 50% from deep and 50% overall.
The rotation picture still isn’t fully settled. Jamahl Mosley started him against Miami because Dejounte Murray was out, and Murray’s return from injury last season still makes him the obvious lead guard. But that doesn’t close the door on Fears playing a major role, especially when games tighten up late.
The added muscle should also help him hold up defensively against bigger guards. He already has quick hands and a real instinct for steals, which he flashed last season when he set the rookie mark with eight steals in a game.
Fears ended last season on a strong note, and his preseason has only added to the buzz. He looks stronger, he’s taking better care of the contact game, and he’s putting in the work on his outside shot.
If that shooting holds, New Orleans may have more than just a promising young guard. It may have a long-term piece.
In Other News...
Pelicans Draft Picture Is Starting To Point Toward A Perfect Fit
The early shape of the 2027 NBA Draft is already giving the Pelicans something to keep an eye on, and the buzz starts with a pair of prospects who seem built to matter on both ends. Jordan Smith Jr. and Caleb Holt sit near the top of the conversation, with Smith drawing attention for his defensive tools and physical profile, while Holt brings the kind of rebounding presence and offensive upside that can change the look of a frontcourt or wing rotation in a hurry.
For New Orleans, the appeal is obvious because the team has often looked for length, activity and players who can fit multiple roles without needing the ball to be spoon-fed to them. Sam Vecenies mock draft places Smith and Holt in the top tier of the class, and that kind of early placement is enough to make the Pelicans picture worth watching closely as the draft board comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Jamahl Mosley Is Attacking The Pelicans Biggest Habit Problem
Jamahl Mosley is changing the way the Pelicans are judged and coached, and the shift says a lot about where New Orleans is trying to go. Rather than waiting around through long stretches to size up what is working and what is not, the staff is moving to shorter, playoff-style evaluation periods so issues can be identified and corrected before they settle in. The idea is straightforward: keep the group accountable, keep the communication clear, and make sure mistakes do not become habits.
Mosleys approach also leans into something coaches often have to relearn with every new roster. The Pelicans are teaching everyone with the same level of detail, from the most experienced players to the newcomers, so no one is left operating on assumption. For a team trying to tighten its daily standard, that kind of instruction matters because understanding assignments and principles is the first step toward eliminating the recurring errors that can stall a season. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Just Clarified One Bottom Of The Roster Battle
The Pelicans have cleared one more name from the bottom of the roster picture, waiving forward Caleb Houstan as they continue trimming toward opening night. Houstan, a former second-round pick, spent four seasons in the NBA but never carved out a steady role, and New Orleans has opted to move in a different direction as it sorts through the final edges of the roster.
What makes the move noteworthy is what did not come with it. The team did not announce a corresponding roster move, leaving one of the lingering questions around the back end of the roster in place for now. New Orleans still appears to have a pretty good sense of where one of those last spots is headed, but this transaction at least narrows the competition a bit more. [Read more 🡒]