Pelicans' Derik Queen puts up crazy numbers only done in recent NBA history by LeBron James, Nikola Jokic
The New Orleans Pelicans suddenly find themselves at the center of a startling statistical conversation, and it revolves around rookie big man Derik Queen. His latest all-around eruption has vaulted him into a category typically reserved for the game’s most complete superstars, drawing direct comparison to rare lines previously posted only by LeBron James and Nikola Jokic in recent NBA history.
While the exact numbers will be debated and dissected by analysts, the contours are clear: Queen delivered a box-score performance that blended high scoring, efficient playmaking, and elite-level rebounding and/or play creation in a single night. That specific combination has, in the modern era, essentially been the domain of LeBron and Jokic, two MVPs whose games redefined what a primary offensive hub can look like.
For the Pelicans, this is far more than a fun trivia note. It hints at a possible foundational piece whose versatility can recalibrate the franchise’s long-term outlook. Queen’s ability to impact multiple phases of the game in one outing suggests he could eventually operate as a connective star, someone who can both finish possessions and initiate them, easing the burden on established scorers and stabilizing lineups when the offense stalls.
From a league-wide perspective, Queen’s emergence fits a broader trend. The modern NBA increasingly prizes bigs who can pass, handle, and read the floor at a guard’s level. Jokic has become the archetype for that evolution, while LeBron’s long-standing role as an oversized playmaker laid much of the groundwork. Queen echoing their statistical footprint, even briefly, signals how far that template has spread.
No one is suggesting he is on their level yet. One outlier performance does not guarantee stardom, and scouting reports will quickly adjust. But when a young Pelican forces his way into a statistical club previously inhabited only by LeBron James and Nikola Jokic, it demands attention. At minimum, it marks Queen as one of the most intriguing rising talents in the league, and a player worth watching closely as New Orleans charts its future.
While the exact numbers will be debated and dissected by analysts, the contours are clear: Queen delivered a box-score performance that blended high scoring, efficient playmaking, and elite-level rebounding and/or play creation in a single night. That specific combination has, in the modern era, essentially been the domain of LeBron and Jokic, two MVPs whose games redefined what a primary offensive hub can look like.
For the Pelicans, this is far more than a fun trivia note. It hints at a possible foundational piece whose versatility can recalibrate the franchise’s long-term outlook. Queen’s ability to impact multiple phases of the game in one outing suggests he could eventually operate as a connective star, someone who can both finish possessions and initiate them, easing the burden on established scorers and stabilizing lineups when the offense stalls.
From a league-wide perspective, Queen’s emergence fits a broader trend. The modern NBA increasingly prizes bigs who can pass, handle, and read the floor at a guard’s level. Jokic has become the archetype for that evolution, while LeBron’s long-standing role as an oversized playmaker laid much of the groundwork. Queen echoing their statistical footprint, even briefly, signals how far that template has spread.
No one is suggesting he is on their level yet. One outlier performance does not guarantee stardom, and scouting reports will quickly adjust. But when a young Pelican forces his way into a statistical club previously inhabited only by LeBron James and Nikola Jokic, it demands attention. At minimum, it marks Queen as one of the most intriguing rising talents in the league, and a player worth watching closely as New Orleans charts its future.
