New Orleans Pelicans rookie big man Derik Queen has turned heads recently, and he’s been enjoying proving his doubters wrong.

While speaking to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk, Queen threw some shade toward those who criticized the Pelicans for trading a future first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks to acquire him on the night of the 2025 NBA draft.

“I’ve been [hearing] it all my life,” Queen said. “Like everybody hated me [before the season started]. I played a little bit at the beginning, and the whole media was hating me. And then once I got to that Charlotte game [and had 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists on Nov. 4], the whole media started liking me. [I’m used to] pretty much people not liking me at one moment, then liking me later on in life.”

Many around the NBA had a lot to say about New Orleans surrendering future draft capital to select Queen with the No. 13 pick. The team had already drafted point guard Jeremiah Fears at No. 7, so moving back into the lottery to add Queen was a bit of a surprise.

“Everyone I talked to after the draft were like, what the f–k were they doing?” one Western Conference executive said of the Pelicans’ draft trade, per Youngmisuk. “… Queen obviously has some talent and skill and could very well end up being a very good player. Maybe it turns out that it is not that bad of a trade if this kid turns out to be a player.”

After a slow start to his rookie campaign, Queen has been a revelation and one of the lone bright spots for the Pelicans, who have the worst record in the NBA at 3-22. In Monday’s 135-132 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, the 20-year-old exploded for 33 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and four blocks, becoming the first rookie center with a 30-point triple-double in NBA history.

Queen and Fears are now the cornerstones for the Pelicans to build around, and the early returns have executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars feeling validated.

“I get it. So much of today’s NBA narrative is around picks and different things like that,” Dumars told Youngmisuk. “I’m trying to build culture here with some really good young players, and I gave up some draft capital to do that. And I love the two young players we have. I hope that doesn’t get lost in all of this.”