Philadelphia 76ers fans are quite familiar with the talent that the 2025 NBA Draft class is littered with as VJ Edgecombe continues to shine in the spotlight. There is another rookie, however, sending shockwaves through the league who has his first game against the 76ers circled on his calendar.
Derik Queen, who the New Orleans Pelicans drafted 13th overall on June 25th, listed the players he was starstruck to play against in an interview on Friday. The Maryland product named LeBron James, Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Davis and Nikola Jokic. Queen then mentioned that Embiid is who he is most eager to play against in New Orleans’ remaining matchups this season.
"Bron guarded me. Scored on him twice. Who else? Wemby, he big as hell. AD and Jokic of course. I'm just waiting for Embiid"
— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) January 9, 2026
-- Derik Queen on players he has been starstruck playing against pic.twitter.com/0AiMY4gQns
The 76ers (21-15) will receive their first glance at the Pelicans (9-31) on January 31st at 7:30 p.m. EST. Philadelphia will then travel to Smoothie King Center for its last game against New Orleans on February 21st at 7 p.m. EST. Whether Embiid will play in either matchup is uncertain, as his availability has been game-to-game. But, the chance looks promising as the 31-year-old played in the 76ers’ last six contests.
What seemed like a three-way rookie duel with Edgecombe, Jeremiah Fears and Queen could instead test the center on where he stacks up against the NBA’s premiere big men, despite Embiid no longer being in Most Valuable Player award talks. The nine-time all-star has hit his stride as of late, averaging 28.3 points on 61.2% true shooting, 8.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in his last 10 appearances.
Queen is having an impressive season in his own right, being one of few positives for the Pelicans in an otherwise nightmarish start. His post-scoring and playmaking talents have popped despite New Orleans’ struggles. The center is averaging 12.9 points and ranks first and third amongst rookies respectively in rebounds and assists, with 7.5 and 4.3. Queen also tallies 1.1 steals and one block and is on pace to have a spot on the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team.
While the rookie’s words towards Embiid were of good intent, the 2022-23 MVP has always delivered in head-to-head matchups with added incentive. It took Embiid less than two years to develop tense rivalries with Andre Drummond and Hassan Whiteside, two of the NBA’s top-end centers in the mid-to-late 2010s. Not to mention, his friendly conflict with Nikola Jokic or when he scored a career-high 70 points against Wembanyama in his first season.
If Embiid plays against Queen this season, it will surely be a fun clash between the NBA’s future and past.