New Orleans Pelicans Rookie Derik Queen Joins Rare Company With Complete Skillset

The New Orleans Pelicans haven't had a 2026 campaign to write home about, but the emergence of star rookie Derik Queen is certainly an exception.

Queen had actually been in a little bit of a slide as of late, but woke up during Friday night's win over the Memphis Grizzlies. In that game, he finished with 22 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two blocks.

After that performance, he entered rare rookie company. Queen joined Larry Bird and Ben Simmons as the only players in league history to reach 600 points, 350 rebounds and 200 assists in less than 50 career games.

Both Simmons and Bird went on to win Rookie of the Year in their respective debut campaigns. Bird finished his rookie season with 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. Simmons finished his with 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 8.2 assists. It's also important to note that Queen is younger than both players were in their first years.

While Queen doesn't seem like he's on pace to end up also winning a Rookie of the Year award, it doesn't take away from everything that he has done. Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel are the only ones battling for that honor right now, and both have had sensational years.

Queen is averaging 12.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per night, which is special for a rookie center. He has become the centerpiece of the Pelicans' future. Every decision the team makes for the near future will have Queen in mind.

Things haven't been perfect. Queen is inconsistent at the rim, needs to improve defensive IQ and must get better at forcing his way to the free throw line. All things that are expected of a rookie.

What isn't necessarily expected is how fluid he moves when he gets into his bag, just how deep that offensive bag is, his ability to meet the moment, his passing skills and more.

A lot will be made of the trade to acquire him for a long time, but New Orleans can't be too mad with how he has started his career.