Rookie Derik Queen and veteran DeAndre Jordan are both playing a key role in the New Orleans Pelicans' future, with summer workouts set to elevate Queen's game.
When the New Orleans Pelicans signed center DeAndre Jordan to quickly fill a need, the team couldn't have known exactly what they were getting. They did get a veteran center who played some solid minutes off the bench, but more importantly, they gained an extra coach who is shaping the future of their franchise.
Jordan became a mentor for center Derik Queen as soon as he arrived with the Pelicans and proved to be a fantastic player to have in the room for the rookie. Players across New Orleans' roster praised Jordan's leadership, but it was especially important to Queen.
The 37-year-old recently did an interview with Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson. In it, they discussed just how highly Jordan thinks of Queen and revealed that two Pelicans stars will be working out together this summer in Los Angeles. Having Queen sit in and follow in the footsteps of a bully center who has played 18 years (and counting) in the NBA is about as perfect as New Orleans could imagine.
The rookie sang the praises of Jordan all season long and even said that he wants to work on his body to look more like Jordan's. The Pelicans need Queen to refine his body so that he's not a target in the paint. Working with someone and having a goal in mind helps.
"[Having Jordan] definitely helped a lot. He taught me, guided me through my rookie season," said Queen at his year-end press conference.
There was a moment early on in the year that showed a great example of what Jordan accomplished. Queen was being interviewed at his locker after one of his first impactful games in the NBA. While speaking to the media, the rookie was sitting down in a chair. Jordan came in from the showers and told him to stand up, make his presence felt. Show some confidence. From then on out, Queen stood for every postgame locker room media session.
It's something that may seem small, but young players need to be shown how to both thrive and even just survive in the NBA. Jordan is someone who has done it at a high level for a long time. Exactly the type of player that the franchise wants to produce. That's why it's not off the board to bring him back next season, as he's well-respected and every team should have some veterans on their bench.