Derrick Quinn joins the triple-double club with Luke, LeBron, Webby
Class of 2025 Derrick Queen was a surprising success for New Orleans Pelicansso far he has averaged 12.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists, even though he was only the 13th pick of the draft. Against San Antonio Spurs, despite his team losing 135-132Queen posted his best performance in the NBA, joining an exclusive club in the process.
His 33 points, 10 assists and rebounds each meant that he became the only one the fifth player in league history to record a triple-double before he turns 21. Others on the list?
Derrick Quinn put on a show against the Spurs, but the Pelicans fell short 😳
He becomes only the fifth player in NBA history to record a 30-point triple-double before turning 21! pic.twitter.com/V7H8kSA4M9
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 9, 2025
Luka Doncic, LeBron James and two of his opponents in the game, in the form of Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, according to the post on X from ESPN. The Queen returned with 11-of-13 free throws and had personal bests in scoring and blocks (4).
His performance placed him in multiple historical statistical categories. He became the first rookie center in NBA history to record a 30-point triple-double.
Quinn accomplished an additional milestone in the third quarter alone: ​​He became the youngest player in NBA history to record a quarter of 20 or more points without missing a shot, finishing the stretch with 21 points while shooting perfectly from both the field and the free throw line. He is now one of only three under-21 rookie greats to record a triple-double, a group that previously only included Vembanyama and Chris Webber.
The triple-double also made him the first rookie in the league this season to accomplish the feat. His efficiency and production played a central role in a comeback effort in which New Orleans erased a 20-point deficit before falling late to San Antonio.
For San Antonio, Harrison Barnes returned as the leading scorer with 24 points, while Stephon Castle and Fox added 16 and 14 points, respectively, in the absence of Victor Wembanyama. Regardless, while Queen will undoubtedly be disappointed after finishing on the losing side, his performance has undoubtedly catapulted him into an elite club.
2025-12-09 16:28:00
