Mar 21, 2025; Raleigh, NC, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Jeremiah Fears (0) reacts after scoring against Connecticut Huskies during the second half at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

12-Year NBA Veteran’s Honest Jeremiah Fears Statement After 2025 NBA Draft

Originally posted on New Orleans Pelicans on SI
By Will Despart | Last updated Jun 27, 2025 3:39 PM ET

The New Orleans Pelicans haven't exactly gotten rave reviews about their performance in this week's NBA Draft, but one pick most fans and analysts agree they got right was selecting Oklahoma's Jeremiah Fears with the seventh overall pick.

Former NBA All-Star and 12-year veteran Jeff Teague is among those around the league who are high on Fears, but he also had very specific hopes about the role Fears will fulfill with the Pelicans during his rookie season. In a conversation on his popular "Club 520" regarding the Pelicans' draft class, Teague made his opinion known.

BHen: They won the draft

Jeff Teague: I hope they let [Fears] play immediately

-- The @club520podcast reacts to the Pelicans draft picks pic.twitter.com/kKTgHBZuoU
— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) June 26, 2025

"I hope they let him play immediately," Teague said. "I hope they just hand him the ball."

Fears' elite ball handling skills made him a prospect that many analysts fell in love with, including ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, who deemed Fears the next coming of Kyrie Irving. Teague and his co-hosts agreed that it may have been a little much, but there is a bit of Irving's craftiness in Fears.

Stephen A. Smith on Jeremiah Fears: “He’s the second coming of Kyrie Irving.”

(via @Frankie_Vision)
pic.twitter.com/ZP7a9r5r9b
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 26, 2025

Fears averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in his lone season at Oklahoma, earning SEC All-Freshman team honors. Fears is the first Oklahoma player to be selected in the NBA Draft since Trae Young went third overall to the Atlanta Hawks in 2018. Despite this, Fears is also the fourth Sooner to be drafted in the top 10 since 2010.

New Orleans is hoping that Fears and No. 13 overall pick Derik Queen are a compatible fit, especially because the Pelicans parted ways with an unprotected 2026 pick to move up for Derik Queen.

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This article first appeared on New Orleans Pelicans on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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