The first rookie center to record a 30-point triple-double in NBA history
In short: Derik Queen's ascent from the high school courts of Baltimore to the NBA highlights a meteoric rise. In just one season, he shattered historical records and navigated major injuries to become a cornerstone for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Queen's trajectory began at Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, where his explosive freshman season in 2021 saw him score a season-high 56 points. His dominance earned him the MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year honor before he moved to Montverde Academy in Florida. There, he faced the challenge of competing against elite talent, eventually helping lead the team to back-to-back GEICO Nationals titles.
His collegiate career at the University of Maryland was equally storied. After a freshman year that saw him named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Queen became a postseason hero. In 2025, he scored 31 points against Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament—the most by any Maryland freshman in the event's history—and later hit a buzzer-beating fadeaway jump shot to defeat Colorado State in the NCAA tournament.
The transition to professional basketball arrived via a complex draft day trade. The New Orleans Pelicans acquired Queen from the Atlanta Hawks on draft night in 2025, receiving Asa Newell and a future first-round selection for the player who was initially chosen 13th overall. Despite undergoing surgery for a torn scapholunate ligament in his left wrist just weeks into his rookie summer, he made an immediate impact.
During a match against the San Antonio Spurs on 8 December 2026, Queen achieved a triple-double featuring 10 assists, 10 rebounds, and 33 points to secure his place in history. This feat made him the first rookie center in NBA history to achieve a 30-point triple-double. He concluded his debut season with an impressive 81 games played, averaging nearly 4 assists per 25 minutes.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Derik Queen
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