Yves Missi on rebound execution, preseason takeaways | New Orleans Pelicans

So, I guess do things kind of change for you at all knowing that you know Kevin’s going to be out for the start of the season and they’re going to be leaning on you more to kind of play heavy minutes at center. I mean I mean it sucks that Looney go down and obviously Carlo also got got hurt recently but I mean I’m just ready to go whenever they call my name uh step up until those guys come back. And I guess how much have you kind of seen the things that you wanted to work on during the summer in these first couple games? Kind of the defensive rebound and finish around the basket, all that kind of stuff. Uh like you said, finish around the basket. Uh see your work on defensive rebound. Sometimes I do those long shot and long rebound. Just stay out. Just stay out there and then wait for the ball to come in. And like I said, finishing around the basketball is the main thing for me. Uh, I think I try to emphasize a little more during the preseason and I’m ready to get it happening during the actual season next week. I know last year opening night it was kind of you were thrust onto the scene early. Where do you feel like you are this year as compared to a year ago at this time when you were kind of like a wideeyed rookie? Uh, more confident. Uh, I know more what I’m doing out there. Uh, this stuff I definitely improve almost every aspect weight wise, strengthwise. I’m just ready to go in there. E, we know that the team really struggled with rebounding and certain things in the paint last season. And I know it was preseason, but going up against Orlando and Houston, two of the bigger teams in the league. What did you take away from that about your guys’ performance? I would say the Houston game, uh, we did a pretty decent job of keeping them off the glass. They didn’t have that many offensive rebounds you usually get. Orlando was lacking a little bit. You need to probably stay more sharp, especially the entire season. I mean, you can’t just you have in one game, you do a good job in the second game is a little shaky. So, just something you need to emphasize and then being consistent over the year. And E, do you feel like you trust this roster more with the guys, the teammates you have, the experience for some of you guys like yourself and being able to just take that step forward from, like I said, rebounding a little bit better, defending the paint, stuff like that. Yeah, obviously trusting these guys. I know they got my back when whatever I do also got, so it’s just good knowing I can trust them. I’m more used to be around them, so it’s good. What was it like having Derek on the court for the first time with you guys today? It’s good. Uh I haven’t seen him since uh what since summer league practices. So it’s good having him back. Uh pretty intense day. Uh he was just getting his heen back. So it was good having him around. Alex was just getting consistent practice time with him. What’s it been like just figuring out spacing with Zion? Just knowing where to be just being in the right spots so he can have the space he needs around the paint. I saw about feet and then just play with each other even more you know uh lasting how the position plays me much together. So this year and obviously during training camp knowing how he moves uh also also know where I need to go whenever he’s going this other way you got to get a rebound if he miss or get a little dump of pass. So I feel the more we play together the more we getting better at it and we’re getting there for sure. And what have you seen out of Jeremiah? We saw him in summer league, right? He had a couple difficult games, including that first game in Australia. But since then, seemed like he’s really improved game by game. And now it seems like you’re even building up a synergy with him on the court, right? He’s throwing some lob passes on time and stuff. So, what can you say about his game to where it’s progressed to now? Oh, he’s definitely progressing. Uh he’s getting more confident, uh more loose out there. So, it’s good seeing him taking some either on the sweep shot or even drives on the drive, his speed, his defensive. So, it’s just good having him and I know he’s getting more confident. The more he play out there, the more he get the opportunity to step on the court, he’ll get even better. And you guys have a trust in him even though he’s a rookie usually, especially at 18. I know he just turned 19. Usually that doesn’t come with the territory, but is it different with him? Yeah, you don’t he don’t act like he’s he don’t play like he’s 19 or 18. So, it’s good just having a guy who’s mature like him. He’s pretty mature for his age. So, it’s just good having around. How much does it how much of a difference does it make defensively just having heard about that consistently? And we know not just the plays he’s making, but y’all talk a lot about just his voice and the way he sees things. How much of a difference does it make? It make a big difference. Even allow me to even help more on defense. Uh I know that if I go her back, we usually talk on defense. So we have that synergy every time, you know, we trapping the ball or sometime you might go off the script and do something different just because you know we have that connection. So it’s great having him around for sure.

New Orleans Pelican center Yves Missi speaks with the media after Pelicans practice at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
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