How the Pelicans’ hidden gem is making things difficult for James Borrego

When Zaion Williamson’s overly optimistic New Orleans Pelicans opened the season Karlo Matković was not written in pencil as a key rotational piece. However, through sheer effort, physical strength and an infectious team mentality, the young big man obliged James Borrego into a welcome dilemma.

Matkovic’s steady rise from fringe option to reliable contributor has complicated lineup choices, especially with multiple productive big men competing for minutes.

Matkovic flirts with 10 points and 10 rebounds much more often, while shooting 46% from 3 points (1.2 attempts per game). He hit at least two blocks three of the last eight gamesfrom February 23. The recent performances of the 24-year-old Croatian cannot be ignored.

“He makes it difficult for me,” Borrego told ClutchPoints. “It’s hard to decide who we’re going to play, who we’re not going to play. We’ve got a number of guys who play well in the frontcourt with (Derrick Quinn, Yves Messi) and Carlo. (Kevon Looney) is a pro and he’s been there; (Zion Williamson) is there, too. But Carlo continues to put pressure on him through his size and physicality. to be a two-way player. (Matkovic) plays with great pace, he can make the three for us.

What separates Matkovic from the typical young player fighting for minutes, however, goes beyond the goal. Borrego was particularly impressed with what the big man brings to the less measurable areas of the game.

“And that’s all the intangibles. (Matkovic) doesn’t care if he scores or gets credit. He’s what you want to be as a team,” Borrego noted. “Carlo is the first guy in the team.

Matkovic’s emergence has largely come from consistent energy and reliability rather than static headline-grabbing lines. That selfless character, Borrego suggests, didn’t happen by accident.

“Somewhere at home, someone has taught him well; he’s been raised well. He’s been coached well, he’s got a spirit of selflessness and team spirit that I just love,” Borrego admitted. “It comes from his game and he continues to play with great confidence.”

Matkovic was not projected to be a regular part of the rotation when the season began. Yet every time he steps on the floor, he earns another opportunity… and then another.

The Pelicans are crazy about Karl Matkovic

Confidence, in fact, has been one of the most visible shifts in Matkovic’s game as the workload has increased. The more he plays, the more natural he looks in the NBA environment.

“Like you said, (Matkovic) looks more comfortable the more minutes he gets,” Borrego admitted. “He’s earned it. This wasn’t given to him. He wasn’t slated to be a starting rotation guy this season, but we put him in there. I believe in him and believe in him. He knows that and I don’t see him backing down.”

Matkovic, the 52nd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, brought an intriguing mix of modern big man skills to the floor. At 6-foot-10 with a legitimate range, he adds a quiet, unselfish reliability that coaches crave. At least one team will appreciate it attributes in free agency this summer if the Pelicans don’t pick up the $2.2 million club option.

Borrego does not hide how much he appreciates that last part. In a league where ego can derail locker rooms, Matkovic’s willingness to do the dirty work without needing the spotlight quickly made him a favorite of both the coaching staff and his teammates. The “difficult” decision of the coach will probably not be easier.

As long as Matkovic brings the same effort, physicality and play-first mentality every night, the rebuilding Pelicans will have to find ways to get him on the floor, as leaving him out right now seems like the wrong choice in both the short and long term. In a league that is always looking for shooting, size and selflessness, Karlo Matković proves to be a rare combination of all three. And at the same time, it makes James Borrego’s job more difficult.