Credit: Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Pelicans coach gives honest view of Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen’s performance, ‘next game trust me’

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aikansh Chaudhary | Last updated Jul 11, 2025 8:00 AM ET

The New Orleans Pelicans were unable to kick off their 2025 NBA Summer League campaign with a victory.

The New Orleans Pelicans recently locked horns with the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2025 Las Vegas NBA Summer League.

After the final buzzer, the Pelicans were handed a 98-91 defeat as they started the tournament with a loss.

Speaking of the matchup, Jeremiah Fears, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, was in the game, but he failed to make a massive impact.

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Corey Brewer drops ‘not scared’ statement on Jeremiah Fears

The Pelicans’ Summer League team is led by assistant coach Corey Brewer. After the seven-point loss, Brewer gave his honest feedback on the defeat and Fears’ performance.

“He’s young, he did a good job. We just had way too many turnovers. The whole team. He’s not scared; you wouldn’t know he’s an 18-year-old kid. He’s like a grown man. Which is great for us,” Brewer told the media.

For context, Fears had 14 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists in 27 minutes of playing time against the Timberwolves. He did so while shooting an underwhelming 4-of-12 from the field.

Additionally, Fears had a team-high seven turnovers, which certainly held back the Pelicans from reaching their potential. Still, coach Brewer had nothing but praise for the rookie.

“He’s vocal, he’s leading the guys, he’s talking. For him, that’s big,” Brewer added.

Corey Brewer promises Derik Queen will be a ‘lot better’ next game

Aside from Fears, many were excited to see Derik Queen play his first game for the Pelicans as well. Coach Brewer gave Queen 27 minutes in his first game.

In those minutes, he contributed 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists for the Pelicans. However, similar to Fears, Queen struggled to keep hold of the ball as he committed seven turnovers.

Despite that, coach Brewer has unwavering faith in the rookie and made a major promise about Queen’s performance in the next game.

“You see flashes of how he’s going to be. He’s going to get better; it’s good to get this first game out of the way. Next game, trust me, he’ll be a lot better,” Brewer boldly stated.

Next up, the Pelicans are all set to face off against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2025 NBA Summer League.

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

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