NEW ORLEANS — Jeremiah Fears is beginning to show a troubling disregard for the traditional NBA rookie development schedule.
The Pelicans guard scored 20 points and handed out seven assists in Saturday's 121–99 victory over Atlanta, reaching the 20-point mark for the second consecutive game.
Ordinarily, young players are expected to spend their first several months learning defensive rotations, adjusting to professional physicality and occasionally being reminded that college scoring opportunities do not automatically transfer to the NBA.
Fears appears to have skipped ahead to the part where the team expects him to produce.
He made nine of 12 field-goal attempts against the Hawks, combining efficient scoring with the sort of playmaking New Orleans desperately needs.
Saddiq Bey led the team with 25 points, but Fears' contribution was particularly encouraging because he wasn't merely putting up numbers during a meaningless stretch.
He was helping organize an offense that has looked significantly more coherent during the Pelicans' two consecutive victories.
New Orleans began the season with four straight losses, so there are still plenty of problems to solve.
But Fears has already demonstrated a willingness to create good shots, attack decisively and behave as though NBA defenders are simply the next level of an assignment he intends to complete early.
The league offers no official exemption from rookie growing pains.
Fears is apparently attempting to negotiate one through his shooting percentage.
For the Pelicans, that's one developmental shortcut nobody is likely to complain about.
