New Orleans Pelicans rookies Derik Queen, Jeremiah Fears and Micah Peavy all put up big numbers in the team's season finale loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The 2026 New Orleans Pelicans season has come to an end with a 132-126 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.
The Pelicans will end the year at 26-56, which is a five-game improvement over last season. It wasn't the result that New Orleans wanted, as they battled through more injuries and inconsistent play.
Sunday night's game was an example of some of the positives they will be focusing on this offseason, even though they lost. None of the veterans played. Jordan Hawkins was the most experienced, and he's in his third year. It gave a chance for the youngsters to put up even more shots.
Jeremiah Fears finished with 36 points, 10 rebounds and five assists with two steals and two blocks. It was a volume night, shooting 12-of-22 from the field. He was an efficient 12-of-14 from the charity stripe, though.
Fears will end the year having scored 40, 36 and 36 in the final three games. It's the first time in franchise history that a rookie scored at least 30 in three straight, which is fitting for the highest-scoring rookie the team has ever had.
His first NBA campaign wasn't perfect, but there is a ton to like. He can score with ease and has improved in pretty much every area throughout the year. He also played in all 82 and won't be 20 until halfway through October.
Derik Queen had 30 points, 22 rebounds and four assists with a steal and a block. He was the first rookie in team history to have a 20/20 game, and just the seventh player overall.
Queen had even more ups and downs throughout the season, but is still a very exciting player. He is under a microscope because of the trade that the team made to select him, but as an individual, it was a good rookie year. He played in 81 games.
It appears as though the Pelicans will remain committed to the current core of veterans and continue to develop the rookies, but those two are the future of the team.
Micah Peavy had the second 20-point game of his career, finishing with 21 points on 6-of-12 from the field. That efficiency being flashed with his high motor on defense makes him a very intriguing piece as well.
New Orleans will head into the offseason with a ton of decisions to make around these rookies, hoping to finally put together another playoff team.