The New Orleans Pelicans have been hunting for a real defensive anchor for years, and Yves Missi is suddenly looking like the best answer they’ve had in a long time.
That’s not just a casual training-camp compliment, either. Around the Pelicans, the conversation around Missi has gotten so loud that Joe Dumars and Jamahl Mosley are already tossing out Hakeem Olajuwon comparisons after what they saw from the young center this summer with Cameroon. It’s a huge label for a player still building his NBA defensive base, but the Pelicans clearly believe Missi has the kind of mobility, timing and athleticism that can eventually put him in Defensive Player of the Year territory.
Dumars said Missi’s international run changed the way the organization viewed him.
“When Missi first got back this summer from Europe, he came back to the building. Coach Mosley and I were in Coach Mosley's office, sitting, talking,” Dumars shared.
“When Missi walked in, it was the first time we saw him, and we called him Olajuwon! You’re over there doing everything!
So I think that’s really good. Usually what happens is those guys come back with even more confidence because they played so well for their national teams.”
Zion Williamson has seen enough up close to understand why the Pelicans are excited. Missi has already dunked on Victor Wembanyama, and in camp he’s been making life difficult for Williamson too.
“I love Yves and what he brings to the table,” Williamson beamed. “During our workouts playing fives, (Missi) was protecting the rim.
It's not easy trying to finish over him. And he moves his feet, so even when he gets switched on to a guard, we do not have to overhelp because he can go hold his own.”
That switchability is the part that really matters for New Orleans. Missi isn’t just hanging around the basket waiting to swat shots. He has the foot speed to survive on the perimeter, which gives Mosley more freedom when opponents try to drag a center into space or hunt a mismatch in pick-and-roll.
For a Pelicans team trying to build a tougher defensive identity, that kind of versatility changes everything. A center who can stay attached without forcing a scramble behind him lets the rest of the defense stay home on shooters and cuts down on the rotations that usually open the floor up for easy looks.
It also changes how the perimeter players can defend. When they trust the big man behind them, they can pressure the ball with more force instead of constantly worrying about what’s waiting at the rim.
Missi still has plenty to clean up. Positioning, communication and consistency all remain part of the job. But the confidence coming back from international play is obvious, and Mosley said the staff sees that as part of the growth process.
“I’ve seen it with many guys who go play internationally…,” Mosley noted. “You come back with a different level of confidence. And our job as a coaching staff and an organization is to keep building and instilling that confidence…”
Nobody is putting a Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy in Missi’s hands yet. But if he can turn that summer confidence into reliable NBA starter-level production, the Pelicans may finally have the defensive cornerstone they’ve been searching for.
And yes, forget the 1-of-7 shooting night in Tulsa to open the preseason. For a team trying to define itself on defense, the early returns on Missi are the kind that get attention fast.
The Olajuwon talk can wait. The bigger bet is already clear: New Orleans is counting on a big season from its young center.
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