Former Maryland men’s basketball star Derik Queen recently had a lot to say about his experience out of the gate with the New Orleans Pelicans, with whom he has showcased his unique playing style as a big man who can pass, shoot and dribble.
Since he didn’t play in any of the Pelicans’ preseason games due to a wrist injury, opponents had little to no recent film on him. Queen tried to take advantage of that in his debut against the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 22.
Queen scored three points and pulled down five rebounds in just 15 minutes in his debut.
“That’s a great feeling, surprising people,” Queen said on Glenn Clark Radio Oct. 24. “I don’t think had a lot of film on me because I didn’t play in any preseason games. Also, I feel like the coaches have faith in me to make plays.”
Transitioning from college ball to the NBA has been no simple feat for Queen so far, especially because of the wrist injury that kept him from proper preparation during the summer and preseason.
Queen has put up solid numbers so far this season, recently helping the Pelicans win a couple of games. He posted 12 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals against the Charlotte Hornets on Nov. 4, then recorded 11 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two rebounds against the Dallas Mavericks a day later.
It is no exaggeration to say that Queen is already contributing to wins for his team, even early in his rookie season. To Queen, it’s still just basketball, but he noted there are some differences in game play between the NBA and Big Ten.
“It’s just basketball, probably just quicker decisions because it’s stronger, faster, older people,” he said.
Queen faced off against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 24. The Pelicans lost in close fashion, 120-116, with Queen putting up 15 points, six rebounds and two blocks.
Queen was asked what he thought about realizing he really was in the NBA playing against the best basketball players in the world.
“This is the best league that anybody can play in, so of course we’re going to see some crazy plays and some great players,” Queen said.
Queen’s standout play of his basketball career, though, is still his buzzer-beater against Colorado State in March Madness earlier this year. In a postgame interview after icing the game and keeping the Terps alive in the NCAA Tournament, Queen was asked what gave him the confidence to take that shot. He replied simply that he had that confidence because he’s from Baltimore.
One way Queen maintains his identity even in a different city with different teammates in a new league is by introducing some Baltimore slang to the locker room.
“The lingo, some of the funny stuff we say in the locker room that they’ve never heard of,” Queen said.
As far as his allegiance goes for the ongoing college basketball season, he had nothing but love for Maryland even though his college coach Kevin Willard left for Villanova. Queen still supports the Terps. It was unclear at the time whether Willard’s likely departure had affected Maryland in its loss to Florida, but Queen cleared the air on that.
“Of course y’all don’t know what’s going on in the locker room, it was just like a 10-second conversation … then it was the end of it,” Queen said. “We all had one goal and that was trying to win.”
For more from Queen, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the New Orleans Pelicans