New Orleans Pelicans rookie center Derik Queen continues to make progress in his rehabilitation from offseason left wrist surgery. On Tuesday, the 20-year-old spoke candidly about his estimated return timeline, fueling optimism that he won’t miss much time to begin his first NBA campaign.
Queen, the No. 13 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, appeared in three Las Vegas Summer League outings before suffering a torn scapholunate ligament in his left wrist. The injury required him to undergo surgery on July 18, with the 6-foot-10 big man initially set to be re-evaluated in 12 weeks, after the start of training camp.
Amid his participation in “conditioning activities” to keep him in optimal shape, Queen appeared in good spirits as he inches closer to his return to on-court action.
How Much More Time Will Derik Queen Miss Due to His Injury?
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday at Pelicans Media Day, Queen offered an encouraging update on his status, suggesting that he hasn’t experienced any setbacks in his recovery process.
“I’m fine now. I’m almost at the end,” Queen said. “Hopefully a month, or a little bit over a month, that I’ll be ready to play.”
The 2025 Big Ten Freshman of the Year’s statement came a day after reports surfaced that he “remains without a definitive timeline for a return to play.”
With New Orleans set to tip off its 2025-26 regular-season schedule on Oct. 22, assuming Queen remains sidelined around one more month, his in-season absence should be short-lived.
Queen Is Putting In Work to Stay In Shape
On Monday, Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars revealed Queen’s rigorous offseason cardio routine, which is aiding his preparation for his rookie season.
“What we said to him is that, ‘Your legs aren’t broken, and so, you can run, run, run,'” Dumars told reporters. “So, he’s so sick of running and riding a bike. … We’ve pushed him about conditioning. You have to get in the best shape possible, and then, he’s right there watching every day.”
Dumars added that Queen is getting “more and more anxious to get out there” after spending the last two months on the shelf. Upon his return, he will face relatively high expectations, given the high price New Orleans paid to acquire him from the Atlanta Hawks on draft night.
The Pelicans parted with the No. 23 pick (Asa Newell) and an unprotected 2026 first-round pick (best from New Orleans or Milwaukee) in exchange for the burly, skilled low-post scorer and rebounder. As such, the Zion Williamson-led Pelicans now face extensive pressure to bounce back from last season’s injury-plagued 21-win finish.
While Queen isn’t projected to start from Day 1, his development, along with that of fellow 2025 lottery pick Jeremiah Fears, will be crucial to New Orleans meeting expectations.
