The New Orleans Pelicans’ season has gone anyway but as planned. However, center Yves Missi has been one of the few bright spots. The 20-year-old center has played above his draft status throughout his rookie campaign, offering a glimmer of hope for a team decimated by injuries and sitting at a league-worst 5-29 record.
Despite the Pelicans’ struggles, Missi’s performance this season has been impossible to ignore. With Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram sidelined and New Orleans without much depth on the interior, Missi has taken full advantage of his minutes, appearing in 33 of the team’s 34 games. His efforts have propelled him to the top of the NBA Rookie Ladder, where he now holds the No. 1 spot after overtaking San Antonio’s Stephon Castle.
For the season, Missi is averaging 9.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 0.6 steals per game while shooting an efficient 55.0% from the field, making him a surprising favorite in the Rookie of the Year race.
Showing how far he’s come, Missi was named the Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month for December. Last month, Missi averaged an impressive double-double with 11.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. He led all rookies in points (146), total rebounds (130), offensive rebounds (63), field goals made (60), and blocks (21) while also ranking among the NBA’s leaders in offensive rebounds (1st), total rebounds (11th), and blocks (7th).
Drafted 21st overall in 2025 out of Baylor, Missi wasn’t expected to be a major contributor this early in his career. However, injuries have provided him with an opportunity to shine, and he’s delivered in a big way. His 277 total rebounds through 33 games have already set a Pelicans rookie record, surpassing Anthony Davis’s 251, while his 125 offensive boards are the most by any rookie since Blake Griffin in 2010.
| Player | Season | Rookie of the Month Honors |
| Chris Paul | 2005-06 | 6 |
| JR Smith | 2004-05 | 3 |
| Darren Collison | 2009-10 | 1 |
| Buddy Hield | 2016-17 | 1 |
| Zion Williamson | 2019-20 | 1 |
| Yves Missi | 2024-25 | 1 |
As Missi continues to develop, his production should only improve—especially if the Pelicans lean into a rebuild. Whether or not the team’s fortunes turn around this season, Missi’s emergence has been one of the best surprises of the year, giving Pelicans fans a reason to hope for the future.
While Missi claims the Rookie of the Month honor for the Western Conference, Washington’s Alexandre Sarr has been named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month.
The season is lost for the Pelicans, but with Yves Missi potentially anchoring the frontcourt for years to come, the foundation for a better future is being built.
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