Derik Queen’s emergence as one of the NBA’s most promising stars is one of the few silver linings for the New Orleans Pelicans this season.
Queen’s 33-point, 10-assist, 10-rebound triple-double against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday reinforced the perception that the rookie is the next Nikola Jokic and could transform the Pelicans franchise.
It was once expected that Zion Williamson would be that paradigm-altering figure in New Orleans, but it is becoming clear that the Pelicans’ future is without the mercurial All-Star.
Williamson, currently out with a right hip adductor strain, has been limited to 10 games this season as the Pelicans have struggled to a league-worst 3-22 record.
And if Queen plays in six more games — taking his season total to 31 — he will have played more games than Williamson has in five of his seven NBA seasons.
With 6 more games played, Derik Queen will have played more games in this season than Zion has in 5 of his 7 NBA seasons.
— Mac (@PelicanObserver) December 9, 2025
Various conditioning and injury problems have limited Williamson to just 224 games played since he entered the NBA in 2019. He surpassed the 30-game mark in 2020-21 (when he took part in 61 games) and in 2023-24 (when he played 70 times).
Williamson is under contract for two more years, but the Pelicans will have to consider cutting their losses on the former #1 pick and building for a future with Queen as their possible franchise centerpiece.
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