Three of the NBA’s most productive rookies seek to improve their awards credentials Thursday night when the New Orleans Pelicans visit the Sacramento Kings.
In a matchup of two of the league’s losingest teams, the Pelicans’ Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears, and Kings’ Maxime Raynaud hope to continue recent form that has vaulted all three into contention for NBA All-Rookie honors.
Fears and Raynaud had big games last month when the clubs went head-to-head for the only previous time in New Orleans. Fears contributed 20 points off the bench to a 120-94 Pelicans blowout, while Raynaud countered with 21 points and 19 rebounds.
Queen, selected 13th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Maryland, chipped in with eight points for the Pelicans. But he holds the overall statistical edge over Fears and Raynaud as they chase the likes of the Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg, Charlotte Hornets’ Kon Knueppel, Philadelphia 76ers’ VJ Edgecombe and San Antonio Spurs’ Dylan Harper for spots on the five-man team.
All three are likely to reach the 65-game threshold required for consideration for postseason awards.
Queen had 19 points in a road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers last Sunday, before getting held to two points two nights later against the Lakers. He ranks first among qualified rookies in rebounds per game (7.2) and eighth in points per game (12.0).
Fears, a guard picked seventh overall out of Oklahoma, has an edge on Queen in scoring, ranking fifth at 13.3 per game, and is second in steals per game with 1.2.
The 7-foot-1 Raynaud leads the 6-9 Queen 13-10 atop the double-double rankings, while sitting just behind in rebounds (7.2) and 11th in scoring (10.7).
While Queen, for the most part, struggled in the first four contests on the club’s ongoing six-game trip, Fears has responded well to coming off the bench of late, averaging 15.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists as New Orleans has gone 2-2.
“He’s been really good recently,” Pelicans coach James Borrego noted to reporters this week. “The two Utah games (to start the trip) and then (the Clippers game) — big shots, big plays. I love to see his growth. He’s headed in the right direction.”
Raynaud, who was selected in the second round (42nd overall) out of Stanford, has put up the best numbers of the three of late. He has recorded double-doubles in six of his last nine games, averaging 15.8 points and 11.0 rebounds over the stretch.
He had 22 points and 10 rebounds in Sacramento’s most recent outing, a 114-103 home loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.
Interestingly, the Frenchman faulted himself for the Kings’ downfall against Phoenix.
“I think they had 18 offensive rebounds,” he cited to the media after the loss. “I don’t remember how many second-chance points they got because of that, but quite a lot, so I think that’s the game right there.”
The Kings will take the court with the fewest wins in the NBA (14), just five less than the Pelicans. A win Thursday would allow New Orleans to reach the 20-win mark, while a loss would be Sacramento’s 50th for the second time in the last five seasons.
The clubs will meet again on April 3 in Sacramento.
