Pelicans Leave Summer League Believing ‘Sky Is The Limit’ For Jeremiah Fears

Jeremiah Fears made a living in the paint at Summer League. He is a blur with the ball in his hands. His ability to quickly shift gears, snap a crossover dribble, and leave his defender in the dust stands out. So did his struggles.

The six-foot-four guard is only 182 pounds. When he elevates for a layup, contact tends to turn what should be two points into a miss, negating the impressive nature of his dash to the rim.

In the New Orleans Pelicans’ 94-81 loss to a noticeably improved Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers, Fears finished with 15 points on 5/21 shooting. He faired 4/9 in the restricted area and went 0/3 in the paint.

“I like the aggressiveness, but we have to make some layups,” said Corey Brewer, the Pelicans’ head coach in Las Vegas. “He has to look at [the]

film and make rim decisions. You have to be able to make it or kick it out.”

Understanding what Summer League is all about, especially for a top prospect like Fears, who New Orleans selected seventh overall, Brewer noted, “Rather him do it now than later.”

Fears reclassified to join the collegiate ranks quicker; he doesn’t turn 19 until October. As Brewer told Forbes after the former put 22 points on the board and dished out four assists in a 113-104 victory vs. the Indiana Pacers on Friday, it’s paramount to maintain perspective about his development.

“Every game, he’s learning, it’s new,” Brewer told Forbes. “He’s going to get better and better. By game 40, 50 next year, he’s going to be a totally different player.”

Center Hunter Dickinson, who joined New Orleans on a two-way deal on the heels of this year’s NBA Draft, stressed a similar sentiment while gushing about what Fears’ future might hold.

“He’s so talented, but then people [have] got to remember, he’s so young, too. He’s 18 years old and [has] got so much potential,” Dickinson expressed to Forbes. “He’s already a really good player now. So, sky’s the limit for him.”

Pelicans see encouraging growth from Fears at Summer League

In five games in Sin City, Fears averaged 5.0 turnovers. Entering Saturday’s Summer League contests, that is the most among those to suit up for at least four, per NBA.com.

He coughed the ball up five times in the Pelicans’ Las Vegas finale against the Pacers. But in a sign of his competitive character, the former Oklahoma Sooners star was the only top-seven pick from this year’s draft not to miss a matchup. He utilized those reps to flash signs of growth as a facilitator whom New Orleans can trust to take care of the ball.

“His decision-making got a lot better,” Brewer told Forbes. “[In the] first two games to the last game, he made a lot better reads. He got guys open shots. So, he’s only going to continue to get better. He’s only 18.”

That’s also an area Brewer pointed to while telling Forbes where he wants to see Fears grow his game after leaving Las Vegas.

“His decision-making,” said Brewer. “It’s the rim reads, coming out [of] the pick-and-roll reads, but it’s anything. Every young player has to go through it. There’s going to be growing pains for him, even during the year this year. Game-to-game, he’s going to be learning.”

As Fears adds muscle and experience, his ability to get to the basket will become increasingly problematic for opponents. He has already proven that he can pile up points at the free-throw line.

The Illinois native generated 6.4 free throws per tilt at Summer League. Entering Saturday’s matchups, that was the eighth-most, per NBA.com. Granted, one shouldn’t lose sight of the caliber of competition he faced.

While Fears is a score-first guard, as he acclimates to playing on basketball’s highest level, his ability to orchestrate New Orleans’ offense will also grow.

He was far from the most active off-ball player in this environment, but as his last name and No. 0 jersey combination suggest, he is fearless. The former Sooner will crash the glass, especially when his defender doesn’t box him out.

Fears parlayed three offensive rebounds into multiple baskets against Indiana in his Sin City finale. It’s another example of his competitive character.

Whether it was reclassifying or staying on the floor throughout Summer League, Fears’ willingness to challenge himself is the other trait that bodes well for him maximizing his potential.

Between that, offensive abilities that would shine in any environment, and an understanding of what will come with time, the Pelicans are understandably bullish on Jeremiah Fears’ future.