{"id":160119,"date":"2025-09-24T06:45:27","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T10:45:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=160119"},"modified":"2025-09-24T06:45:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T10:45:27","slug":"pelicans-rookie-derik-queen-recovery-timeline-ready-season-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/09\/24\/pelicans-rookie-derik-queen-recovery-timeline-ready-season-opener\/","title":{"rendered":"Pelicans Rookie Reveals Recovery Timeline, Ready For Opener?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/a>, per team reporter Erin Summers. Of course, Dejounte Murray<\/a> still hasn’t returned to action after tearing his Achilles<\/a> in late January. Derik Queen<\/a>, the 13th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, sustained a torn scapholunate ligament during Summer League. Even Jose Alvarado<\/a> gave people a scare after being stretchered off the court<\/a> during FIBA AmeriCup.<\/p>\n

On the flip side, Trey Murphy III<\/a> and Herb Jones<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

Pelicans Rookie Derik Queen Reveals Recovery Timeline<\/h2>\n

“I’m fine now,” Queen reveals. “I’m almost at the end.”<\/p>\n

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“I’m fine now. I am almost at the end. Hopefully a month, or a little over a month Ill be able to play”<\/p>\n

— Derik Queen on his recovery timeline pic.twitter.com\/Sc2gY7FY2T<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) September 23, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n