Pelicans’ Rookies Shine in Rising Stars, but the Bigger Picture Still Looms
The New Orleans Pelicans didn’t send a large contingent to All-Star Weekend, but the two rookies they did send made their presence felt in a big way. Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears, both 2025 lottery picks, suited up for the Rising Stars Challenge - and they didn’t just show up, they stood out.
Queen played under Hall of Famer Vince Carter, while Fears ran with a squad coached by Carmelo Anthony. Both teams won their first-round matchups, setting up a head-to-head showdown in the final - with Team Vince ultimately getting the win.
But beyond the scoreboard, the real takeaway was this: anytime Queen or Fears was on the floor, they were among the top five players in the game. That’s not hyperbole. That’s what it looked like.
Keep in mind, this wasn’t a soft field. Fears shared the court with Stephon Castle - the reigning Rookie of the Year and No. 2 overall pick - and Dylan Harper, another highly-touted young talent.
Queen, meanwhile, lined up alongside V.J. Edgecombe, who ended up taking home MVP honors.
Yet both Pelicans rookies held their own and then some.
They didn’t just belong - they impacted the game. The defensive attention they drew, the poise they played with, the way they moved within the flow of the offense - it all popped. Outside of Edgecombe, Castle, and Jaylon Tyson, there weren’t many players who clearly outshined them.
Queen and Fears Prove They’re Foundation Pieces - But Fit Remains the Issue
For all the excitement around the Pelicans’ rookies, their performance also cast a spotlight on the franchise’s biggest long-term dilemma: the roster is being pulled in two directions.
On one hand, you’ve got the present-day core built around Zion Williamson. On the other, you’ve got a promising future taking shape with Queen and Fears.
The issue? Those timelines - and more importantly, the players - don’t cleanly align.
Take Queen’s performance. He only scored four points on 1-of-7 shooting, but don’t let the box score fool you - he was the offensive hub for Team Vince.
He grabbed seven boards, handed out five assists, and played with a level of composure that’s rare for a rookie big. The offense flowed through him, and it worked.
That’s the kind of role he needs more of in New Orleans. But with Zion on the floor, it’s tough to make that happen.
You’re talking about two frontcourt players who aren’t floor-spacers and don’t bring size advantages. In today’s NBA, that’s a tough combo to make work - especially when spacing and versatility are king.
And it’s not just Queen. Fears also faces a similar squeeze.
He looked sharp in the Rising Stars games, knocking down 2-of-3 from deep and flashing the kind of shot creation that made him a lottery pick. But his game thrives on space and driving lanes - things that are harder to come by when Zion’s gravity is mostly pulling defenders into the paint.
It’s not that Zion isn’t a great player. When healthy, he’s a force. But building around him requires a very specific type of roster construction - one that doesn’t necessarily mesh with what Queen and Fears need to maximize their growth.
The Draft Picks Were a Win. Now Comes the Hard Part.
Let’s be clear: the Pelicans nailed the 2025 draft. Queen and Fears look like long-term starters - maybe even stars. That’s a huge win for a franchise that needed an infusion of young talent.
But now comes the hard part. New Orleans has to decide what kind of team it wants to be - and who it wants to build around.
Because trying to stretch two timelines across one roster rarely works. Eventually, something - or someone - has to give.
The Rising Stars game didn’t just showcase the Pelicans’ future. It raised the stakes for their present.
The talent is there. The question is whether the franchise is ready to make the moves necessary to let it flourish.