Derik Queen Explodes for Career-High 30 in Pelicans’ Win Over Mavericks—Is New Orleans’ Next NBA Star Born?

New Orleans – Rookie center Derik Queen has gone from promising lottery pick to the talk of the NBA almost overnight. Over his last three games the 6-10 New Orleans Pelicans big man is averaging 23.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists, stuffing box scores in a way that has fantasy managers scrambling to add him. Yet it was a single sequence late in Sunday’s loss to Atlanta that truly sent Queen’s name rocketing across social media. With the Hawks dribbling out the clock, Queen snatched an inattentive in-bounds pass, sprinted the length of the court and hammered home a two-handed dunk a half-second before the final buzzer. Atlanta players confronted him, but NBA veterans Danny Green and Hall-of-Famer Paul Pierce quickly jumped to the rookie’s defense, noting that the unwritten “no-score” etiquette applies only to the team that’s winning. Pelicans head coach Willie Green called the play “pure competitiveness,” while Queen shrugged it off: “Clock’s running—I’m playing.” That edge has defined his first month as a pro. Inserted into the starting lineup five games ago to spark a sluggish offense, Queen has demonstrated veteran footwork on the block, surprising court vision out of short rolls and an ability to guard in space that fits New Orleans’ switch-heavy scheme. Scouts were intrigued by Queen’s craft when he starred at Montverde Academy alongside top pick Cooper Flagg, but conditioning concerns dropped him to 13th in June’s draft. Those doubts are evaporating. Queen currently ranks third among rookies in Player Efficiency Rating and second in total steals, fueling early Rookie of the Year whispers. Teammate Zion Williamson praised the newcomer’s versatility: “He sees the floor like a guard and finishes through contact like a five-year vet.” The numbers back it up: New Orleans is +11.2 points per 100 possessions with Queen on the floor this season, the best on the roster. His short-roll passing has lifted the Pelicans to a top-five assist rate during his starting stretch, while his 69 percent shooting inside eight feet punishes single coverage. Opponents who double are paying; Queen has already logged four games with five or more assists, rare territory for a first-year center. Off the court the 19-year-old has quickly become a fan favorite. Videos of Sunday’s steal-and-slam hit two million views in 12 hours, and “Queen Rule Breaker” trended on X until early Monday morning. Merchandise is following suit: the team store reported a 400 percent spike in Queen jersey sales during the 24-hour window after the Hawks game. What’s next? A nationally televised showdown with Nikola Jokić and the defending-champion Nuggets looms Wednesday. Jokić recently said he sees “a bit of my game in the kid,” an eyebrow-raising compliment from the two-time MVP. If Queen can hold his own on that stage, his breakout could turn from regional buzz to league-wide phenomenon. Fantasy impact and search traffic suggest the spotlight is only intensifying. For New Orleans, that’s a welcome development; for opponents, it’s another matchup nightmare to scheme against. Either way, the NBA’s latest viral moment has a new royal: meet Derik Queen, the rookie who refuses to stop playing until the horn sounds.