{"id":256515,"date":"2026-06-05T16:37:44","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T16:37:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/256515\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T16:37:44","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T16:37:44","slug":"pelicans-derik-queen-enjoys-being-nba-finals-correspondent-pelicans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/256515\/","title":{"rendered":"Pelicans’ Derik Queen enjoys being NBA Finals correspondent | Pelicans"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Orleans Pelicans<\/a> rising sophomore forward Derik Queen<\/a> has enjoyed his first full offseason as an NBA player by studying.<\/p>\n

At Queen\u2019s exit press conference, he told local media members that he planned to attend some NBA playoff games to learn what the atmosphere is like. In the first round, Queen was seen attending the Atlanta Hawks-New York Knicks series to watch his former teammate and current Knicks guard Jose Alvarado<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now, Queen is at the NBA Finals as one of five NBA player correspondents.<\/p>\n

Alvarado reunion<\/p>\n

During his media duties, Queen interviewed Alvarado during a Knicks practice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s some advice that you could give me now that I\u2019ve finished my rookie year?\u201d Queen asked Alvarado before placing the microphone close to Alvarado\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm,\u201d Alvarado said, before pushing the microphone away. \u201cYo. Chill out, bro. Chill. Yo, stop, bro!\u201d<\/p>\n

The clip then cuts to Alvarado holding the microphone himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome advice I\u2019d give you [is to] \u2018Shut up and listen\u2019,\u201d Alvarado said to Queen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was bad?\u201d Queen asked Alvarado.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes,\u201d Alvarado responded. \u201cYou learn from the moments that you weren\u2019t the kid who was trying to act like he knew it all.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd just be yourself. You have an important year coming up. I tell you this all the time. So you better have a great summer, and I\u2019m happy for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alvarado then flipped the script and asked Queen a question.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was your favorite moment between you and me in New Orleans?\u201d Alvarado said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI made a bad play, and then you lifted my head up,\u201d Queen said. \u201cWhen we were in Miami, you and I went out to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was good vibes?\u201d Alvarado asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Queen said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, I respect that,\u201d Alvarado said before he shook Queen\u2019s hand, laughed and thanked him for his time.<\/p>\n

@PelicansNBA<\/a>
\nrookie Derik Queen interviews his former teammate Jose Alvarado at
\nNBA Finals Game 2 Media Day.<\/p>\n

Knicks (1-0) Spurs Game 2: Friday at 8:30pm\/et on ABC \ud83c\udfc6 pic.twitter.com\/vbSPsr34uT<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBA (@NBA) June
\n4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Advice from KAT<\/p>\n

He then asked Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns a question.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat advice do you have for someone who\u2019s similar to you?\u201d Queen asked. \u201cLike a big man with guard skills? As a rookie big who\u2019s just trying to learn. What advice do you have for me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, you already are superbly talented,\u201d Towns said. \u201cI\u2019ve seen it firsthand. I think, for me, it\u2019d be more about locking into the film consistently. Never leave the gym, be infatuated with the work. I know it\u2019s weird, but JB [Jalen Brunson] has it on his shirt, but the magic really is in the work. The real gift about experience is that you\u2019ll find ways to accomplish the same goal and get the stats with using way less energy. And with that, that\u2019s where experience really kicks in, and it\u2019s a beauty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are already superbly talented, I\u2019ve
\nseen it firsthand.\u201d \ud83e\udd79<\/p>\n

High praise from KAT to rookie big Derik Queen, who asked him for
\nadvice. pic.twitter.com\/trI7yYCdr1<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBA (@NBA) June
\n4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Queen is the player correspondent for Game 2. Caleb Wilson, a top-4 2026 NBA Draft prospect, was the player correspondent for Game 1.<\/p>\n

Queen\u2019s teammate and fellow Pelicans\u2019 rising sophomore, Jeremiah Fears, will be the correspondent for Game 3.<\/p>\n

AJ Dybantsa, widely projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel are also series-player correspondents.<\/p>\n