Derik Queen, the New Orleans Pelicans rookie big man, received heartfelt encouragement from Stephen A. Smith ahead of Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals, with Smith praising Queen’s personality and “magnetic” smile as Queen develops after a strong start followed by
Derik Queen is only 21, but the New Orleans Pelicans rookie has already lived through the kind of swing that can define early NBA careers—moments that look like a breakthrough, then stretches where a young player has to earn trust again.
The Pelicans drafted Queen by moving up to the 13th overall pick. surrendering the 23rd overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft (Asa Newell) and an unprotected 2026 first-round pick—where the 2026 selection would land at eighth overall in that draft—to make it happen. Once in the league. Queen flashed the traits the franchise was hoping to build around as a modern big man. shining at multiple points during his rookie run.
Still, the season ended with him on a downward trajectory. As the Pelicans wrapped up their campaign, they used Queen off the bench to finish the year after he had broken through to the starting lineup sometime in the middle of the season.
That’s the context when Stephen A. Smith’s message landed. Smith, a major voice in American sports media, is a clear fan of Queen’s character. He told Queen that he noticed something simple but powerful: how he responds when things go wrong.
“You’re a nice, beautiful kid. You got a really nice smile. And let me tell you how it works. You can have a bad moment in a game, and I’mma go like this, ‘Damn, but I like him. I really like that guy. He got such a wonderful smile,’” Smith said to Queen prior to Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals.
“That’s what the smile does. Smiles are powerful. Keep it. And the game. Don’t lose the game.”
Smith’s encouragement wasn’t subtle. He later leaned into the same point in a longer exchange described around Queen’s “magnetic smile,” with the message traveling widely after it was shared alongside the rookie’s profile.
For Pelicans fans, that kind of confidence matters because the numbers—while not perfect—show plenty of promise. In his rookie campaign, Queen averaged 11.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while appearing in 81 games for New Orleans.
The expectations around Queen are stitched into the way the Pelicans acquired him in the first place. New Orleans didn’t just select a player at 13—they paid to get him there. parting with the 2025 Draft’s 23rd pick (Asa Newell) and an unprotected 2026 first-rounder. Now. with Queen still early in his development at 21 years old. there is time for the “kind of modern big man” he showed at points to become the more consistent centerpiece people were already imagining.
Queen’s upbeat presence has also helped him connect with the fan base. His infectious personality has made him an easy player to root for. with supporters hoping the rookie can grow into the kind of perennial All-Star—and perhaps perennial All-NBA—talent the Pelicans were chasing when they made that trade to move up.
For now. the message Smith delivered before Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals was straightforward: keep the smile. keep the mindset. and don’t let one stretch decide the story. In a season that ended with Queen shifted to the bench after earning starts in the middle of the year. those words land as something more than compliments—they sound like fuel for the work ahead.
Derik Queen New Orleans Pelicans Stephen A. Smith 2026 NBA Finals Game 2 NBA draft trade Asa Newell 2025 NBA Draft 2026 first-round pick rookie season stats