How Derrick Quinn earned more ‘trust’ as NOLA’s focus

Trust is not given freely to NBA rookies, especially those who are asked to touch the ball as often as necessary Rookie prodigy Derrick Quinn has for New Orleans Pelicans in James Borrego’s basement. However, as the season progressed, Quinn steadily earned a bigger role in the offense, not just through scoring, but by consistently making the right decisions when the ball found the former Maryland Terrapin. That breakthrough may be news to most, but for Joe Dumars, it’s simply vindication of a widely failed decision.

At the basis of this rise is exceptional judicial vision and decision-making. Unlike many young players who primarily focus on scoring or rebounding, Quinn excels at reading defenses and finding open teammates. His assists per game lead all rookies, which is a testament to his ability to work as a facilitator at all three levels. Whether from a low block, elbow, or outside the three-point line, The winner of NBA rising stars loses money the whole season.

Borrego has been vocal about rookie development, especially the development of the 21-year-old the ability to create an advantage for teammates.

“Well, for (Derrick Quinn), his value to us offensively right now is his ability to make plays for others,” Borrego began. “That’s a high IQ. We can move him to the post, to the elbow, to the top of the floor. He’s been able to screen a lot of our guys and make plays. So we trust him. More than anything, we trust him to have the ball and make the right play and give us some kind of advantage.”

The Queen’s versatility became an integral part of Borrego’s offensive plans. His ability to operate from different spots on the court creates mismatches and opens up opportunities, showing the kind of basketball awareness usually associated with veterans rather than rookies.

In addition to his playmaking, Queen has established himself as a consistent presence on the glass. His rebounding prowess gave New Orleans a reliable source of second-chance points and defensive stability.

“The board was important to us,” Borrego added. “(The Queen) has had 12-plus rebounds multiple times. That’s something she gives us night in and night out.”

However, Borrego can only train one rookie so much. Veterans with different perspectives on the game help fill in the information gaps on the other side.

“The growth is still on the defensive end. (The Queen) knows that and understands that. And that’s where I’ve seen the growth. I think what (Yves Missy) and DeAndre Jordan and (Kevon Looney) learned from that was huge for (The Queen) to understand how to communicate, how to talk through coverages, what coverages we’re in.”

The Queen’s progress is encouraging, but the learning curves for any NBA rookie are steep, especially for big men tasked with protecting the rim while managing complex defensive assignments. He navigated these challenges simply by absorbing that knowledge.

“There are so many decisions NBA players have to make on the floor, especially when you’re a young guy. It happens so fast,” Borrego explained. “The game continues to slow down in spurts for him, and I think that’s been a real plus.”

With all that understood, Queen quickly became a key part of the team’s rebuilding efforts. Averaging 12.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 48.4% from the field, he guides all beginners in total rebounds (353) and total assists (205). He is also second in hits (43). Minutes, points, steals and field goal percentage are all highs.

James Borrego’s Pelicans can work to improve regardless of how this season plays out after the NBA trade deadline.