Pelicans head coach Jamahl Mosley sets high bar for former first-round pick heading into 2026-27 season

Mosley's staunch support of Missi not only raises expectations for the former Baylor Bears star but should also serve as a necessary confidence boost following a rocky second season.

After appearing in 73 games with 67 starts and averaging 26.8 minutes per game as a rookie in 2024-25, Missi's playing time diminished in his second season under former coaches Willie Green and James Borrego, who acted in an interim role for the season's final 70 games. He started just 14 games while appearing in 66 altogether in 2025-26 and averaged just 19.7 minutes per game.

But as Pelicans writer Jim Eichenhofer noted on social media, Missi showed promise defensively in limited action, particularly following the All-Star break, when he averaged six points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 20.5 minutes per game. Per Eichenhofer, his 3.4 blocks per 36 minutes during the span ranked second-highest in the league among players who logged at least 300 minutes, with only unanimous DPOY Victor Wembanyama (4.7 blocks per 36 minutes) ranking higher.

Following practice on Thursday, Mosley further hyped up Missi, boasting about his performance.

"I wish y'all could have been in the practice today. He was special," Mosley said.

Winning the award is a long shot, particularly with Wembanyama one of the most dominant defensive forces in NBA history, but simply entering the conversation would be a massive win for Missi and the Pelicans.

Last season, New Orleans was among the league's worst defensive teams, allowing 120 points per game. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Pels were slightly worse than league average (67 percent) defending shots at the rim, with opponents making those attempts at a 67.2 percent clip. New Orleans also struggled against mid-range attempts, particularly from within 4-14 feet of the basket. Opponents made 47.4 percent of those shorter mid-range attempts, the third-highest rate in the association.

If Missi can blossom into a defensive anchor, the Pelicans will have a chance to improve upon last year's 26-56 record. In Orlando, Mosley built the Magic into one of the league's top defensive squads; in 2024-25, they led the league in points allowed (105.5 per game).

For Mosley to have similar success resurrecting New Orleans on the defensive end, particularly early in his tenure, Missi will play a prominent role. According to his coach, he may be ready for the challenge.