Derik Queen may not be among the more heralded rookies this season entering the NBA draft. The Atlanta Hawks did not want him that they had to strike a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans to get some players with ‘higher value’.
He had a slow start but he is making up for that now by continuously turning heads. He even got the attention of NBA legend Tim Duncan. Analysts think his ceiling is so high that to Richard Jefferson, he could be the next best American big.
The one-time champion said Queen has the potential to become part of Team USA for future international competition.
“You know how bad we need Queen? I bet you if he keeps playing like this, he could be on the Olympic team as one of the bigs,” said Jefferson on “The Road Trippin’ Show.”
“His game is so important. If he continues to progress, he literally could be the big on Team USA or one of the bigs invited for USA Select. Because what he brings, we need so badly for USA basketball. So bad.”
“If he continues to progress, he literally could be the big on the USA team or one of the bigs invited for the USA Select. What he brings we need so bad on USA basketball”
— Richard Jefferson on Derik Queen pic.twitter.com/7Ygzr35T3N
— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) December 10, 2025
Derik Queen’s record-setting night
The comments came after the 2025 13th overall pick posted his career high 33 points in loss to the Spurs. He also had 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 blocks in the night.
DERIK QUEEN IS DIFFERENT.
33 PTS
10 REB
10 AST
4 BLK
11/15 FG pic.twitter.com/7BbyBmNh1B— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 9, 2025
It was Queen’s first ever triple double but it also happened to be something that set a new record. His performance last Sunday made him the first ever rookie to record such stat since the league started recording blocks in 1973-1974.
The 20-year-old also joined the likes of LeBron James, Luka Dončić, De’Aaron Fox, Victor Wembanyama as the only players to have 30-point triple-double before their 21st birthday.
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