Pelicans’ Rookie Duo Climbing the NBA Rookie Ladder, Challenging Cooper Flagg’s Early Lead
The Rookie of the Year race is heating up - and while No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg remains the front-runner, the New Orleans Pelicans might just have a pair of rookies ready to crash the party.
Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears have both been turning heads, and not just in New Orleans. Around the league, their names are now firmly planted in the Rookie Ladder conversation, with Queen sitting at No. 3 and Fears climbing to No. 4 in the latest rankings. That’s no small feat in a class headlined by a generational talent like Flagg.
Let’s start with Queen, who’s been flashing serious franchise-player upside. On December 8 against the Spurs, Queen delivered a monster triple-double - 33 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists in just 33 minutes.
That kind of all-around performance doesn’t just pop off the stat sheet; it sends a message. Even in a loss, Queen showed he can take over a game in multiple ways.
Of course, rookies hit bumps in the road, and Queen had a quieter night in the Pelicans’ December 14 win over the Bulls - just 4 points in 11 minutes. But context matters.
That was a matchup better suited for second-year big man Yves Missi, and Queen still found a way to impact the game, pulling down 8 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists. That’s the kind of versatility coaches love - a young player who can adjust his role and still contribute in meaningful ways.
Right now, Queen is averaging 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. If he can push those numbers closer to a nightly double-double, this Rookie of the Year race could get a lot more interesting. Flagg’s 42-point explosion in a recent loss to Utah may have solidified his lead for now, but Queen is hanging close - and gaining ground.
Then there’s Jeremiah Fears, who’s been steadily climbing the ranks and just posted his most efficient game as a pro. In that same win over the Bulls, Fears dropped 20 points on 53.8% shooting, adding 3 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals. Not bad for a rookie playing in his hometown.
Fears has been a sparkplug during the Pelicans’ current two-game win streak, pouring in a combined 39 points and showing growing confidence with each outing. His rise from No. 5 to No. 4 on the Rookie Ladder reflects that momentum, and if he keeps producing like this, he could climb even higher.
Tonight, both rookies will be back in the spotlight as the Pelicans host Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets. It’s another big test - and another opportunity for Queen and Fears to prove they belong in the same breath as Flagg.
Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m., with coverage on Fox 8 and the Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network. Keep an eye on New Orleans - the Pelicans’ youth movement is starting to make some serious noise.