A Joker and a Queen. Here are Nikola Jokic’s thoughts about Derik Queen’s splendid performance

For anyone wondering how Derik Queen got that “Baby Jokic” nickname that’s displayed on his profile page on the Basketball Reference website, the answer came Wednesday night as he shared the court with Nikola Jokic himself.

While Jokic and the Denver Nuggets got the 125-118 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, a 20-year-old rookie was showing off a similar skill set to arguably the best player in the world.

Queen stuffed the stat sheet with a career-best 30 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

“That was an impressive first go at Jokic,” Pelicans interim coach James Borrego said.

Borrego anticipated the matchup before the game tipped off.

“He’s looked up to this guy for many years, and he’ll get a crack at him tonight,” Borrego said pre-game. “It’s awesome going against the guy you have great respect for and you mimic your game after. This can’t be a go out there and be in awe of this guy. You’ve got to go out there and compete against him. You’ve got to go impose your will and be aggressive.”

Queen did just that, and Borrego wasn’t the only one impressed.

So was Jokic.

“He’s an amazing player,” Jokic said. “You can see some similarities (to me). I don’t want people to see him and tell him he’s something like me. He’s a good enough player to have his own story.”

It’s a story that started unfolding last week with Queen’s breakout performance of 26 points, seven rebounds and four assists in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, but forget about that breakout performance. The real one came Wednesday against Jokic, the three-time MVP whom some have compared Queen’s game to. The way Jokic described Queen after the game, it almost sounded like Jokic was describing himself.

“He’s good,” Jokic said. “He has some moves. He’s definitely crafty. He’ s unorthodox. He has great touch and a feel for the game. He’s really good. It’s good to see somebody different.”

Queen shot 12 of 18 from the floor and became the first rookie in franchise history to score 30 points with at least five rebounds and two blocked shots in a game.

The Pelicans’ 13th overall draft pick also became one of just two rookies to have 30 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals in 31 minutes or less in a game. Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs was the other one two seasons ago. Wembanyama did it in his 66th NBA game. Queen did it in his 15th game.

Even more impressive is that Queen is playing this well despite not going through training camp or playing in the preseason. He tore a ligament in his left wrist in a Summer League game in Las Vegas and missed all of the preseason.

You wouldn’t have known it by the way he attacked the basket against Jokic. He also knocked down a 3-pointer, his second of the season. 

Queen, who played at Maryland, had one 30-point game in college against Michigan. Now he has his first one in the NBA.

Is he surprised it came so soon?

“After I got a few games under my belt, I was like, ‘It’s kinda easy,’ ” Queen said.

Jokic was his usual dominant self, finishing with 28 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds before fouling out with 2:44 remaining. Jokic had nine turnovers.

“Just a little bit of pressure on both ends,” Queen said about the matchup. “On the defensive end, trying to turn him over. And on the offensive end, just going at him trying to get him in foul trouble.”

Queen really started paying attention to Jokic’s game last year. 

“When I got to college — because I knew I was going to get (to the NBA) — I watched him a little bit more,” Queen said.

Jokic said he notices some similarities.

“I think I’m a little bit taller,” said Jokic, who at 6-11 is 1 inch taller. “But I think there is that style. Crafty. I can see it.”

Jokic, in his 11th NBA season, has played in 759 games. Queen has played 15.

“I just gotta keep on building,” he said. “(This was) definitely a confidence booster because he’s a three-time MVP and an NBA champion. I’ve just gotta keep on going. Don’t get too high. Don’t get too low. Just keep on getting better every day.”