For the New Orleans Pelicans and their long-suffering fans, it’s a story that has become painfully familiar. A new season brings a fresh wave of hope, a talented young player looks poised to make a leap, and then, inevitably, disaster strikes. This time, the victim was prized rookie Derik Queen, and his heartbreaking social media post captured the feeling of a franchise that just can’t seem to catch a break.
The news was a gut punch. New Orleans announced that Queen had undergone successful surgery to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his left wrist, an injury he suffered during a Summer League game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The team’s official timeline for his recovery is a re-evaluation in 12 weeks, a brutal blow that will keep him sidelined for all of training camp and likely the start of his rookie season. Queen’s reaction on social media was simple and devastating: four crying face emojis.
For the Pelicans and their fans, this felt all too familiar. After a disastrous 21-win season plagued by injuries, the hope was that a new front office, led by Louisiana native Joe Dumars, and a talented draft class could turn things around. The team was aggressive on draft night, trading a future first-round pick to move up and select Derik Queen just minutes after taking Jeremiah Fears at No. 7. In his three Summer League games, Queen had shown flashes of the player they were so excited about, averaging an impressive 14.1 points and 11 rebounds.
Derik Queen underwent surgery for torn wrist ligament; to be re-evaluated in around 12 weeks.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) July 18, 2025
But now, another promising young player is on the shelf, and for a fanbase that has seen this movie before, it’s hard not to wonder if something else is at play. One fan on social media summed up the feeling perfectly: “Pelicans might really be cursed.“
That sentiment isn’t just coming from the cheap seats; it’s a feeling that’s been echoed by a former player. Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, who spent two injury-plagued seasons in New Orleans, didn’t mince words when asked about his old team. “That organization’s cursed. Every year there’s something new. I’m happy I’m not there anymore,” Daniels said. “The curse, man. I had like four or five ankle injuries down there as well. There’s something down in that water down there or something. They got hamstrings. They got knees. They got concussions and stuff as well. They get everything down there.”
(This is a developing story…)
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