New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears closed his rookie season with a focus on development, durability, and expanded responsibilities after playing all 82 games in the 2025-26 campaign.
Fears attributed his year-round motivation to a simple foundation, stating, “just the love of the game. I fell in love with the game at an early age and I think I just carried it on carried it along with me at every level middle school, high school, college and now in a professional.”
The 19-year-old emphasized steady improvement across the season, pointing to how his approach evolved as the game slowed down. “I would say just the way the game slowed down for me. I think that was a big thing for me,” he said, adding that film study and monthly progression were key.
A noticeable turning point came during a regular-season matchup against Milwaukee. “I think it was the playmaking and just the competitive spirit I brought to the game that game and I think like he said I think that’s when it flipped for me as well,” Fears explained.
Playmaking became the clearest area of growth in his rookie year, supported by late-season production and expanded on-ball duties. “I would say definitely playmaking. My playmaking came a long way and just being able to read the game,” he said.
Fears also credited recovery routines for helping him handle the transition from college-level workloads to an 82-game NBA season. “Being able to recover, focus on your recovery. I think that was huge for me,” he noted, referencing tools like cold tubs and training-room routines.
Despite the grind, Fears completed all 82 games and highlighted availability as a personal priority. “I just don’t like missing out on stuff. And this is like my last stint of playing basketball. So I’m trying to take advantage of how many years I play and try to play all 82.”
The rookie also reflected on a midseason role change after Herb Jones returned to the lineup, describing how veterans guided his response. “For sure. Dejounte, Jordan Poole, DeAndre Jordan, Kevon Looney, Zion,” he said, detailing advice on perspective and opportunity.
Fears described a key adjustment period, noting he was encouraged to reframe his mindset. “You can either look at it in a positive outlook or a negative outlook. And I think I looked at it in a positive way.”
Veteran influence remained a consistent theme throughout his development. “It was very valuable,” he said, pointing to guidance from experienced teammates who had already navigated similar NBA challenges.
Looking ahead, Fears expressed optimism about his partnership with Derik Queen, emphasizing continuity. “We probably will take two, three weeks off and then get back to it,” he said, adding they plan to study playoff basketball together during the offseason.
As for individual benchmarks, Fears highlighted milestones that stood out in his debut year. “Definitely making a Rising Stars game,” he said, while also noting his durability and learning curve over 82 games.
The Pelicans guard finished the season with a clear focus on physical development and long-term progression. “Obviously I’m going to be bigger, stronger, and I’mma learn a lot throughout the summer and just continue to improve throughout the summer as well,” he said.
