Derrick Quinn has high hopes for New Orleans’ last 40 games

ByNBAUSA



Derrick Queen chooses optimism as the New Orleans Pelicans take a look at a key part of the 2025–26 NBA season. Speaking after Friday’s encouraging win, the Pelicans forward expressed strong belief in the group’s chemistry and its ability to turn the narrative around over the final 42 games.

“The chemistry might not show in the wins, but we’re all close, we all love each other. It’s still a work in progress,” Quinn said. “We have about 40 games left. We hope to have a high percentage of wins in the next 40 games.”

His comments they reflect a locker room still united despite a season that has yet to live up to expectations. Quinn had 14 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists in a big win over the Washington Wizards.

That optimism comes amid a difficult campaign for New Orleans. As of this writing, the Pelicans sit at 9-31, which puts them in 14th place in the Western Conference and fifth in the Southwest Division. They are out of the current playoff picture. Injuries, inconsistency and late game struggles plagued the team. This prevented them from building sustained momentum. However, the organization emphasized development and cohesion. They are relying on internal growth rather than short-term fixes as they assess their direction heading into the second half of the season.

The Queen was a notable bright spot during that process. He is currently averaging 12.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He has shown steady growth as he adjusts to increasing responsibilities in the rotation. His energy, physical fitness and willingness to do the dirty work earned him the trust of the coaching staff, even when the wins weren’t consistent. More importantly, Quinn’s appearance underscores a broader belief in the locker room that New Orleans can still salvage pride and progress from a challenging season by finishing strong.





2026-01-10 12:51:00

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