The Pelicans may not have made the splash some fans wanted this offseason, but Yves Missi is starting to make that decision look a lot smarter.
New Orleans entered the 2026 offseason with a clear center question hanging over the roster. Instead of chasing an upgrade, the front office left the frontcourt alone, a choice that disappointed plenty of fans at the time. Then Missi went out and turned the FIBA World Cup qualifiers into a showcase.
Against Nigeria last Thursday, the soon-to-be third-year big man looked every bit like a player ready to take a real leap. He powered Cameroon to a 78-62 win with 24 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and four blocks, while shooting 9-of-13 from the field and 6-of-8 at the line.
He wasn’t done there. Missi also put together a strong outing against Tunisia, finishing with 19 points and 14 rebounds. He shot 6-of-9 from the field, 5-of-8 from the free-throw line, and even knocked down 1-of-1 from three.
The numbers were impressive enough, but the way he got them stood out even more.
For most of his NBA run so far, Missi has been known as a vertical threat - the kind of center who lives off pick-and-roll finishes, lobs, and easy buckets at the rim. That still matters, but the version of Missi showing up in these qualifiers looks like more than just a rim runner. He’s putting the ball on the floor, using his athleticism to get past slower bigs on the perimeter, and showing a much broader offensive game than he’s flashed in his first two seasons.
The play that really got Pelicans fans buzzing came against Nigeria, when Missi attacked the defense off the dribble and made it clear he’s been working on more than just finishing plays.
If that part of his game carries over, New Orleans suddenly gets a different kind of center than the one many people thought it might need to trade for. Instead of a five who only finishes what others create, the Pelicans could have a big man who can create some of his own offense too. Missi has also shown better scoring on postups, using a variety of moves that already looks like a more realistic next step than the ball-handling work.
Then there was the three-pointer against Tunisia, the kind of moment that had Pelicans social media losing its mind. That’s not something anyone should expect to become a regular part of his NBA game next season, especially with how new he still is to basketball. But it is a promising sign that he’s clearly putting in the work and expanding what he can do.
The Pelicans have been missing a high-level center, and few people expected Missi to grow into that answer this quickly. After what he showed overseas, though, the buzz around him heading into year three is as loud as it’s ever been. The front office has to feel pretty good about betting on internal growth instead of bringing in another center.
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