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Derik Queen breaks New Orleans Pelicans record that even Anthony Davis never broke

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Charlie Walker | Last updated Dec 9, 2025 2:35 PM ET

When the New Orleans Pelicans traded up to draft Derik Queen, they were largely ridiculed around the NBA.

The New Orleans Pelicans traded with the Atlanta Hawks for the 13th pick (Derik Queen), giving away the 23rd pick and an unprotected 2026 first-round pick.

It was an almighty price to pay for what wasn’t a highly sought-after player. Next year’s unprotected first-rounder could prove to be the number one pick next season, so the only way the Pelicans win this trade is if Queen develops into an outright superstar.

But what the Pelicans are proving is that when you believe in a guy, sometimes you have to go and get them. It’s early in his rookie season, but Queen might be proving the Pelicans right. He’s just broken a record that even one of the most highly touted number one picks ever, Anthony Davis, never broke.

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Derik Queen breaks New Orleans Pelicans record

Queen has surpassed all expectations early in his rookie year. He’s had five 20-point games, two 30-point games, has received plaudits from Tim Duncan, and Queen has even been compared to Nikola Jokic.

And he did something in his latest game against the San Antonio Spurs that no Pelican has ever done before. With 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, Queen became the youngest player in franchise history to record a 25-point triple-double at the age of 20 years old.

Neither Davis nor Zion Williamson were able to achieve this same feat. With all of the hype surrounding both of those number one picks in New Orleans, could it really be Queen who is the player that finally lifts this organization into contention?

What is the ceiling for Derik Queen’s career?

Derik Queen became the youngest-ever New Orleans Pelican with a 25-point triple double!

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It would be a fitting turn of events. The Pelicans were slammed for potentially giving up next year’s number one pick for Queen, but they know better than any team that having the first pick is rarely the path to a championship.

In fact, the last number one pick to play a starring role on a championship team was Kyrie Irving in 2011, and you have to go back to LeBron James in 2003 to find a number one pick that led their team to a title.

So maybe, just maybe, the Pelicans learned lessons from the past and struck gold. They identified a talent, ignored outside advice, and did everything they could to get their guy in the building. And so far, Queen is rewarding their faith.

Derik Queen admits he had ‘doubts’ about himself before rookie season

Facing intense criticism due to no fault of his own was a brutal start to Queen’s career, and he admitted that he even began to doubt himself going into his rookie season.

He didn’t have a preseason as Queen was sidelined with a wrist injury, which makes this rapid ascension into stardom all the more impressive.

After his 30-point triple-double, Queen said what these performances mean to him. He said, “It means a lot. Pretty good for a person that didn’t have a preseason, was hurt, a lot of people doubted.

Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images

“I had a little bit of doubt in myself, first time being injured. And then how things have been going this season, it’s pretty good.”

Queen has shown immense mental resilience to put in these rookie performances, and he’s showing the world why he was worth the Hail Mary thrown by the Pelicans during the draft.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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