Veteran center DeAndre Jordan has played with some of the most flammable personalities in NBA history, so he knows a thing or two about keeping you cool. After the New Orleans Pelicans' 115-105 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday, Jordan made sure to shout out rookie Jeremiah Fears for a different kind of situation: the lack of technical fouls.
"He ain't got no technique. I'm very proud of him," Jordan said, smiling. "He ain't got no technique today."
"He didn't get any techniques. I'm very proud of him. He didn't get any techniques today"
- DeAndre Jordan on Jeremiah Fear pic.twitter.com/GQ0AgVCqdt
- Pelican Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) 1 March 2026
The veteran's playful jab came after a high-stakes game where emotions could have easily boiled over. Fears, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, played with a maturity that belied his age, especially after Pelicans star Zion Williamson left the game early in the second quarter with a right ankle injury.
With Williamson sidelined, Fears stepped up in a big way. The rookie guard finished the night with a massive double-double, including 18 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. He also added five assists and two blocks in 34 minutes of action, which shows why he remained atop the NBA rookie ladder throughout the season.
The Pelicans relied on a balanced attack to earn their fourth consecutive win. Saddiq Bey led the scoring with 24 points, while Bryce McGowens matched Fears with 18 points. Herbert Jones led the defensive effort with 17 points and eight rebounds, helping New Orleans hold off a late lead from Utah's Isaiah Collier, who finished with 21 points.
For a Pelicans team that is beginning to find its stride in the Western Conference, Fears' development as a skilled playmaker is a huge win. If he can continue to accumulate double-doubles while avoiding the referee's whistle, DeAndre Jordan will have a lot more to be proud of.
