Derik Queen’s start to his NBA career is not ideal after the New Orleans Pelicans’ 13th overall pick suffered a torn ligament on his wrist in July. He already underwent surgery is now recovering.
The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that forward/center Derik Queen underwent successful surgery to address a torn scapholunate ligament in his left wrist. The surgery was performed this morning by Dr. Steven Shin in Los Angeles, California.
Queen sustained the injury… pic.twitter.com/6uIgQk4L1P
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) July 18, 2025
Queen is one of the two top rookies Pelicans got from the recent draft, with Jeremiah Fears being the other one. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Hawks but New Orleans traded for him by giving away fellow rookie Asa Newell and future first-round draft pick.
The Maryland Terrapins standout is expected to be out for three months to fully recover from surgery
New Orleans Pelicans president wants Queen to watch his weight
Three months might not be that long but one great enemy while waiting for all of it over is discipline.
Pelicans president Joe Dumars said they are particular with Queen’s recovery journey and so, they compelled to spend a lot of time on the bicycle. Dumars even joked that he will be legendary cyclist Lance Armstrong for now.
“What we said to him was: ‘Your legs aren’t broken, and so you can run.’ He is so sick of running and riding the bike. I asked him, I said, ‘Do you know who Lance Armstrong is?’ He said, ‘I’ve heard the name before.’ I said, ‘Yeah, you’re going to be Lance Armstrong here on this bike,'” the president told reporters.
“He came back the next day, ‘I know who that is.’ We’ve pushed him about conditioning. You have to get into the best shape possible.”
Pelicans are moving on to a new era after letting go of Brandon Ingram mid-season and acquiring Saddiq Bey and Jordan Poole. Queen and Fears are expected to take the place of Ingram who averaged above 20 points in all the five seasons he was with the team.
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