The former Sooner poured in double-digit points in his pro debut, but fouled out and committed too many turnovers.
Jeremiah Fears, a former Oklahoma basketball star, played in his first NBA Summer League game Thursday with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans, who selected Fears with the 7th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, lost 98-91 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Advertisement
“It was super dope,” Fears said. “Going out there and competing. Getting to play with a lot of my new teammates for the first time and we went out there, played hard and did what we could do.”
Fears scored 14 points on 4-12 shooting from the field, along with two assists and two rebounds. Fears, though, turned the ball over seven times and fouled out of the game with six fouls.
It’s a learning curve for Fears, who is just an 18-year-old rookie, and that’s what the Summer League is for. Figuring out how the professional process works and how to operate both on and off the court.
Corey Brewer, the Pelicans’ Summer League coach, said despite Fears’ ball security struggles, he’s been a leader for his team.
Advertisement
“He’s vocal, he’s leading the guys, he’s talking. For him, that’s big,” Brewer said. “He’s young, he did a good job. We just had way too many turnovers. The whole team. He’s not scared; you wouldn’t know he’s an 18-year-old kid. He’s like a grown man. Which is great for us.”
Fears spent one season in Norman, averaging 17.1 points with four rebounds and four assists per game in his college career.
OU coach Porter Moser has been keeping tabs on Fears and has been encouraging Fears throughout the NBA process, which is something Fears said is an awesome thing for his former college coach to do.
“He’s given me a lot of encouragement,” Fears said. “He’s continued to reach out, text me and call me. That is super cool that he continues to reach out. He’s been telling me to continue to do what I do and trust my work and continue to put in work.”