New Orleans Pelicans rookie Derrick Queen has been one of the pleasant surprises this season with his impressive all-around play. After a slow start, he has learned to adjust and has become a consistent performer for the Pelicans.
Queen was named as one of the participants in the Rising Stars at All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. This is a major accomplishment for the 21-year-old center, as the NBA has acknowledged his hard work and talent.
While Queen has certainly held his own against the giants, he admitted that his welcome moments in the NBA were against two established big men.
“I got cooked twice. By Embiid and by AD (Anthony Davis),” Queens said in a video posted by Yahoo. game.
NBA’s rising stars share their “Welcome to the League” moments pic.twitter.com/xZ0oxtOUMC
– Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) 14 February 2026
Queen didn’t point to a game where he was embarrassed by Embiid, but it was certainly fresh in his mind, as the Pelicans and 76ers had just faced each other on Feb. 1.
Queen had nine points on 3-of-8 shooting, six rebounds and two assists. Embiid, on the other hand, had a game-high 40 points on 13-of-27 shooting, 11 points, four assists and two blocks.
The Pelicans and Mavericks have met three times this season, with Davis scoring only once and scoring a game-high 35 points on 16 of 28 shooting. He also grabbed 17 rebounds and two assists. Queen was not too weak with 19 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and two steals.
The Atlanta Hawks selected Queen, who starred for Maryland, with the 13th overall pick. He was traded to the Pelicans on draft day in exchange for Asa Newell and a first-round pick.
#Derrick #Queens #NBA #moment #courtesy #Joel #Embiid
