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Pelicans Rookie Reveals Recovery Timeline, Ready For Opener?

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The season hasn’t even started yet and the New Orleans Pelicans are already battling the injury bug, leading to executive vice president Joe Dumars spending ample time with the team’s medical staff and making some tweaks, per team reporter Erin Summers. Of course, Dejounte Murray still hasn’t returned to action after tearing his Achilles in late January. Derik Queen, the 13th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, sustained a torn scapholunate ligament during Summer League. Even Jose Alvarado gave people a scare after being stretchered off the court during FIBA AmeriCup.

On the flip side, Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, both of whom suffered torn rotator cuffs last season, are healthy and will be ready for the season opener. On top of that, Queen is “fine now” and awaiting medical clearance.

Pelicans Rookie Derik Queen Reveals Recovery Timeline

“I’m fine now,” Queen reveals. “I’m almost at the end.”

“Hopefully a month, or a little over a month that I’ll be able to play.”

Ready For Season Opener?

It seems possible that Queen will be available for the Pelicans season opener against the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 22. However, even if he isn’t ready then, he shouldn’t miss more than a handful of games. New Orleans will face four other teams in October: the San Antonio Spurs (Oct. 24), Boston Celtics (Oct. 27), Denver Nuggets (Oct. 29) and Los Angeles Clippers (Oct. 31). Before they face the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 14, they’ll have played six more games, including a interdivision rematch against the Spurs.

Sep 23, 2025; Metairie, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center Derik Queen (22) takes part in media day at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

All of that is to say that despite the timing of Queen’s injury dampening some of the excitement around the team, it’s important to put his potential availability in full perspective. He’s not in the same boat as Oklahoma City Thunder rookie big man Thomas Sorber, who’ll miss the entirety of 2025-26 after tearing his ACL this offseason. Though a torn wrist ligament is serious enough, he’s not even in the same boat as Brooklyn Nets rookie playmaker Egor Demin, who’s dealing with the infamous plantar fascia injury.

In fact, the way the Pelicans are approaching Queen’s rehab process inspires confidence in his ability to hit the ground running whenever he does get back.

“What we said to him was: ‘Your legs aren’t broken, and so you can run, run, run,’” Dumars told Pelicans reporters during Monday’s preseason press conference. “So, he’s so sick of running and riding the bike. I asked him, I said, ‘You know who Lance Armstrong is?’ He said, ‘I’ve heard the name before.’ I said, ‘Yeah, you’re going to be Lance Armstrong here on this bike man.’ He came back the next day, ‘I know who that is.’”

“We’ve pushed him about conditioning,” Dumars continues. “You have to get into the best shape possible.”

Queen-ditioning

So, Queen isn’t just doing the bare minimum as he awaits full clearance, he’s working hard. More importantly, he’s working at improving the biggest concern draft analysts had about him, which was his conditioning. He hasn’t trimmed off as much fat as Zion Williamson, who arrived at Pelicans Media Day more fit than he’s been in his entire NBA career. Nevertheless, he does look like he’s carrying less weight than he did in college.

For reference, here’s how Queen at Maryland.

Here’s Queen during Monday’s NFL game, in which he went to support his hometown Baltimore Ravens (take note of the removed brace wrist).

As New Orleans prepares for what could be a surprisingly successful season, Queen’s health is an important topic. The draft night trade that’s become part of his lore has only enhanced the scrutiny surrounding him. However, though Pelicans fans are particularly wary about injuries, there really doesn’t appear to be much to be concerned about.

© Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

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