Derik Queen wasn’t supposed to be the centerpiece this soon. But in a season where the New Orleans Pelicans have struggled to find consistency, the rookie big man has quietly - and now loudly - emerged as a stabilizing force. And not just with raw numbers, but with the kind of poise and basketball IQ that’s rare for a first-year player, especially one asked to handle the ball as often as Queen.
Trust isn’t handed out easily to rookies in the NBA. It’s earned, possession by possession.
Yet James Borrego has steadily expanded Queen’s role within the offense - not because the 21-year-old is lighting up the scoreboard, but because he’s consistently making the right reads. Whether it’s a skip pass out of a double team or a perfectly timed dish from the elbow, Queen has become a hub for New Orleans’ ball movement.
His passing has been a revelation. Queen leads all rookies in assists per game, and he’s doing it from everywhere - the low block, the top of the key, even beyond the arc. He’s not just a big man who can pass; he’s a facilitator in the truest sense, dictating the flow of possessions and creating looks for teammates in rhythm.
Borrego isn’t shy about what Queen brings to the table.
“For (Derik Queen), his value for us right now offensively is his ability to make plays for others,” Borrego said. “It’s the high IQ.
We can move him to the post, to the elbow, to the top of the floor. He has been able to screen for a number of our guys and make plays.
So we trust him. More than anything, we trust him with the ball and to make the right play and to create some kind of advantage for us.”
That trust has turned into opportunity, and Queen has made the most of it. His versatility allows Borrego to run sets through him in multiple spots on the floor, shifting the defense and opening up mismatches. It’s the kind of role typically reserved for seasoned veterans, not rookies still adjusting to the speed of the league.
But Queen’s impact doesn’t end with his passing.
He’s been a force on the glass, too - a consistent presence in a frontcourt rotation that’s leaned on him more and more as the season’s worn on. His rebounding has helped the Pelicans generate second-chance opportunities and hold their own defensively.
“The board has been important for us,” Borrego added. “(Queen) has been at 12-plus rebounds multiple times. That’s something that he gives us night in and night out.”
And while the offensive game is ahead of schedule, Queen’s defense is still a work in progress - as it is for most young bigs. Rim protection, pick-and-roll coverages, backline communication - it’s a steep learning curve. But Queen isn’t climbing it alone.
He’s had the benefit of learning from veterans like Yves Missi, DeAndre Jordan, and Kevon Looney - all players who’ve been through the wars and know how to anchor a defense. Their mentorship is helping Queen pick up the nuances of NBA defense: when to drop, when to hedge, how to call out switches and rotations.
“The growth continues to be at the defensive end,” Borrego said. “(Queen) knows and understands that.
I’ve seen growth there as well. I think having (Yves Missi) and DeAndre Jordan and (Kevon Looney) to learn from has been massive for (Queen) to figure out how to communicate, how to talk through coverages, what coverages we are in.”
It’s a lot to process for any rookie, but Queen is starting to catch up to the speed of the game. That’s a big deal.
“There are so many decisions that NBA players have to make on the floor, especially when you’re a young guy. It’s moving so fast,” Borrego explained. “The game is continuing to slow down in spurts for him, and I think that’s been a real plus.”
And with that, Queen has become a foundational piece for a franchise in the midst of a rebuild. His averages - 12.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game on 48.4% shooting - only tell part of the story.
He leads all rookies in total rebounds (353) and total assists (205), and he’s second in blocks (43). He’s also top-five among rookies in minutes, points, steals, and field goal percentage.
That’s not just production - that’s impact. And it’s the kind of all-around game that gives the Pelicans something real to build around, no matter what the rest of this season holds.
Derik Queen isn’t just learning the NBA game - he’s helping shape it for the next era in New Orleans.