# Pelicans' New Top Priority Centers Around Jeremiah Fears

> Pelicans choose Jeremiah Fears as starting point guard to build around.
- Title: Pelicans' New Top Priority Centers Around Jeremiah Fears
- Summary: Pelicans choose Jeremiah Fears as starting point guard to build around. New Orleans Pelicans will start Jeremiah Fears to test if he can become franchise…
- Keywords: pelicans, jeremiah fears, zion williamson, chris paul, byron scott, nba, point guard, new orleans, sports, Pelicans', Top, Priority
- Source: New Orleans Pelicans On SI — https://si.com/nba/pelicans/onsi/pelicans-new-top-priority-centers-around-jeremiah-fears-01m5173sh7zq
- Published: 2026-10-16T17:00:01+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: pelicans, jeremiah fears, zion williamson, chris paul, byron scott, nba, point guard, new orleans, sports
## Pelicans' seven-year build
The New Orleans Pelicans have spent seven years trying to figure out how to build around Zion Williamson.
## Chris Paul's legacy
Chris Paul ran the offense. Byron Scott trusted him to lead his team on both ends of the floor.
## Hornets' 2008 peak
In 2008, New Orleans won 56 games and came within one victory of the Western Conference finals.
## Current direction
Jamahl Mosley and Jeremiah Fears give the Pelicans a chance to establish a new direction.
## Fears' responsibility
Fears has shown an appetite for responsibility. Mosley has praised his toughness and work ethic.
## Make Fears starter
Make Fears the starting point guard.
## Fears' potential
He has plenty to learn before anyone can reasonably call him a franchise player.
## The lesson from Paul and Scott
When the Hornets selected Paul fourth overall in 2005, they were coming off an 18-64 season.
## Paul's impact
Scott put his rookie in charge. Paul started all 78 games he played, and the Hornets improved to 38 wins.
## Paul's role
Paul showed immediately that he belonged in front. Fears hasn't demonstrated that same command of an offense.
## The case for a different foundation
Anthony Davis became an elite successor to Paul and led New Orleans to its only other playoff series victory.
## Williamson's challenges
Williamson arrived with the talent to take the franchise even further. Seven seasons later, he still hasn't played in a playoff game.
## Fears' adaptability
He can attack in the pick-and-roll, push the pace, and create opportunities for wings when help defenders step toward his drives.
## Fears' scoring
His scoring is expanding beyond the rim, with pull-ups and three-poointers giving him more ways to challenge a defense.
## Dumars' view
Joe Dumars praised Fears' talent and makeup and made clear that youth alone wouldn't determine his role.
## Fears' ambition
Fears wants to be top-two point guard of all time.

> I would definitely say top-two point guard of all time
## Make the responsibility meaningful
Mosley gives the Pelicans a credible teacher. His Orlando teams finished third in defensive rating in 2023-24.
## Fears' next step
Fears needs enough responsibility for those lessons to matter.
## Key takeaway

New Orleans Pelicans will start Jeremiah Fears to test if he can become franchise player after seven years of building around Zion Williamson.