That’s it. The New Orleans Pelicans 2025-26 season is over just like that. A 26-56 record, finishing 11th in the Western Conference, and while the team never really got to reach its full potential, a lot was learned about the future of New Orleans basketball this season.<\/p>\n
The biggest lesson the Pelicans faithful learned this season was that the time is now to move on from Zion Williamson, as Derik Queen is the future of this franchise. And if anyone was still questioning whether Queen is the future, the performance he gave in New Orleans\u2019 final game of the season against the Minnesota Timberwolves should have changed that.<\/p>\n
In the final game of Queen’s rookie campaign, he posted 30 points, 22 rebounds, and 4 assists, with one steal and one block. This was DQ’s first 30\/20 game of his career, and it made him the first Pelican since DeMarcus Cousins in 2017-18. This game further highlighted that when given the runway and touches to be a star, he can be a special young player.<\/p>\n
Queen proved he’s the future<\/p>\n
Sure, for those who may have just checked the box score, Queen’s 30\/20 game may not seem as impressive when you see he shot sub-40 percent, going 11-for-28 from the field. However, this game wasn\u2019t about makes or misses. It was about the potential Queen flashed and the preview he gave fans of what a future around him could look like. This was Queen’s first game of his NBA career, where he really just got to do what he did in college, less structure and way more freedom, and while at times shots didn\u2019t fall, he still found a way to make history with a 30\/20 game.<\/p>\n
There’s no better way Queen could’ve ended his rookie campaign than by becoming the first rookie since 2023-24 to have a 30\/20 game, when Victor Wembanyama
\n did it.<\/p>\n