Jokić Praises Pelicans' Derik Queen After 30-Point Breakout

Derik Queen erupted for 30 points, nine boards, two steals and two blocks against the Nuggets, drawing praise from Nikola Jokić, who said, "He's good. He has some moves, he's definitely pretty crafty." The rookie's unorthodox touch and playmaking earned him "Baby Jokić" comparisons, but with the Pelicans mired 2-13, Queen is more bright spot than cure-all. Merlin senses a shifting tide: bigs who see the court like guards are multiplying, and Queen shows that blueprint. Jokić even cautioned, "I don't want people to see him and tell me he's something like me... he'll have his own story." Consistency will decide if this spark becomes a flame, but the potential is real.