NBA
DQ
#22

Derik Queen

Center · New Orleans Pelicans · 6'9", 250 lb · Born Dec 27, 2004 · Baltimore, Maryland · Drafted 13th overall, 2025
No. 13 pick (2025)Playmaking bigMarylandRookie history
NBANew Orleans PelicansCenters
Compare:vs Murrayvs Jonesvs Fearsvs Poolevs Beyvs III
In short

Derik Queen is a skilled, playmaking rookie center for the New Orleans Pelicans, drafted 13th in 2025 out of Maryland, where he was Big Ten Freshman of the Year. A Baltimore native with rare passing ability for a big, he averaged around 12 points, 7 rebounds, and nearly 4 assists as a rookie — and became the first rookie center in NBA history to record a 30-point triple-double.

Matchup model · next gameMedium confidenceFri, Nov 13
@Minnesota TimberwolvesDrop coverage
Proj. points
11.6
range 8.9–14.3
Line 11.5
51%
to go over
Team win
37%
111–114
Poi 11.6 Lean overReb 7.1 Lean overAss 3.7 Lean overPRA 22.3 Lean under
Likely on himRudy Gobert· 88 Rim protectionElite stopper
10+ pts70%15+ pts13%

Model lines Queen at 11.6 pts (range 8.9–14.3) vs a 11.5 line — roughly a coin flip to clear it (51%).

Model favors Minnesota Timberwolves (63%), projected 111–114, ~225 total at 96.5 pace.

Full matchup breakdown · all markets →
Balladex Matchup Model — modeled from real roster ratings, scoring baselines & defender-matchup history. Schedule, availability & head-to-head samples are illustrative in this prototype; production wires live schedule, injury & player-tracking feeds. Not betting advice.
✦ Ask anything about Queen
The Queen Story — narrated
Tap play to hear his story, told as a 90-second short.
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A skilled, playmaking rookie center — passing and scoring for the Pelicans.

Big Ten Freshman of the Year at Maryland, Queen hit an NCAA buzzer-beater before being drafted 13th in 2025.

🏫 Maryland · 13th, 2025Baltimore, MD

Drafted by Atlanta and traded to New Orleans, he's a skilled playmaking big.

Traded to NOPPlaymaking big

As a rookie he averaged around 12 points, 7 rebounds, and nearly 4 assists.

11.7 / 7.1 / 3.7Foundational

He became the first rookie center ever with a 30-point triple-double.

30-pt triple-doubleRookie history
— end of story —
Want the full numbers? Open the breakdown →
PPG
11.7
2025-26
RPG
7.1
per game
APG
3.7
per game
FG%
.473
.261 from three
LIFE

Roots & the rise

A skilled, playmaking rookie center — passing and scoring for the Pelicans.

Derik Queen was born in Baltimore and starred one season at Maryland — Big Ten Freshman of the Year — hitting an NCAA Tournament buzzer-beater before Atlanta drafted him 13th in 2025 and traded him to New Orleans. He is a skilled, playmaking big with rare passing ability.

As a rookie he averaged around 12 points, 7 rebounds, and nearly 4 assists, and made history as the first rookie center ever to record a 30-point triple-double. A foundational young big, his perimeter shooting and defense are the areas to develop.

Sources: Wikipedia, NBA.com, Basketball-Reference, ESPN.

BEYOND THE GAME

Beyond the game

Queen is a Baltimore product whose local pride was a draft-night storyline — a St. Frances Academy and Montverde star and McDonald's All-American Game Co-MVP who carried his city's basketball tradition to the NBA lottery. He overcame a Summer League wrist surgery to play a full rookie season.

His on-court identity is skilled, playmaking center play — a 6-foot-9 big with unusual passing and ball-handling for his size, interior scoring, and rebounding, a rare offensive hub in the frontcourt. His perimeter shooting (limited in college) and defensive consistency are the developmental frontiers, but his feel and offensive skill give him a high ceiling as a foundational big for the Pelicans.

PERSONALITY

The person

A skilled, playmaking center — passing, interior scoring, and rebounding with rare feel.

Playmaking bigRare passing and ball-handling for a center.
Interior scorerScores and rebounds with feel and skill.
Historic rookieFirst rookie center ever with a 30-point triple-double.
PLAYER DNA

Archetype & ratings

Archetype
Rookie Playmaking Big
Temperament
Steady
Leadership
58/100
Scoring60
Playmaking50
Rebounding83
Perimeter D50
Rim protection83
Spacing46
Athleticism70
Clutch63
a rookie rebounding-and-playmaking big
ANALYSIS

What the numbers say

Skilled, playmaking center

Queen's value is skill and passing at the center spot — a 6-foot-9 big with unusual passing and ball-handling for his size, interior scoring, and rebounding, a rare offensive hub in the frontcourt (a 30-point triple-double as a rookie). That feel and skill give New Orleans a foundational young big to build around.

Shooting and defense to grow

The developmental frontiers are perimeter shooting (limited in college, not yet a floor-spacer) and defensive consistency. His passing, interior scoring, and rebounding are already productive; if his shooting and defense develop, his offensive skill projects a genuine building-block center for the Pelicans.

STATS

Season by season

Per game

SeasonGPMINPTSREBASTFG%3P%
2025-268125.011.77.13.7.473.261

Source: Basketball-Reference.

ADVANCED

Advanced & historical

Where he sits in history

CollegeBig Ten Freshman of the Year at Maryland; an NCAA Tournament buzzer-beater
2025Drafted 13th overall (by Atlanta); traded to New Orleans
2025First rookie center in NBA history with a 30-point triple-double

Hardware

No. 13
Draft pick (2025)
1×
Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2025)
OUTLOOK

Where it's headed

AI-generated · updated July 13, 2026

A skilled, playmaking rookie center — a foundational young big for the Pelicans.

Queen is a promising foundational big — a productive rebounder and elite-for-position passer as a rookie, with a historic 30-point triple-double. His key development areas are outside shooting and defensive consistency; his feel and offensive skill give him a high building-block ceiling.

Playmaking (big)Strong
Interior scoringStrong
ReboundingStrong
Shooting / defenseDeveloping

Contract

Draft
No. 13, 2025 rookie
Role
Playmaking center foundational
Age
21 rising
Bottom line

A skilled, playmaking rookie center with rare passing feel and a historic 30-point triple-double — a foundational young big for New Orleans, with shooting and defense the keys.

FAQ

Quick answers

What makes Derik Queen unusual?

His passing and ball-handling for a center — a 6-foot-9 big with rare playmaking feel who became the first rookie center in NBA history with a 30-point triple-double.

Where did Derik Queen play college basketball?

One season at Maryland, where he was Big Ten Freshman of the Year and hit an NCAA Tournament buzzer-beater.

What does Derik Queen need to develop?

Outside shooting (limited in college) and defensive consistency — the keys to unlocking his foundational offensive skill.