What Reddit Pelicans Fans Are Saying About This Season's Biggest Surprises

As I scroll through the r/NOLAPelicans subreddit this season, I can't help but feel that familiar mix of excitement and apprehension that comes with being a longtime Pelicans fan. What strikes me most about this year's conversation isn't just the usual trade speculation or injury updates—it's the genuine surprise at how certain players have developed, particularly Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones. I've been following this team since the Chris Paul days, and I've rarely seen our fanbase this unanimously positive about player development. The transformation we're witnessing reminds me of something fundamental about sports mentorship, something that echoes in that beautiful Filipino phrase from our reference knowledge: "Kung gusto mo ako (gayahin), ito ang mga gagawin mo" — "If you want to be like me, these are the things you'll do."

When I first heard about that quote from former PBA player and current Pelicans development coach Mike Mendoza speaking about his son, it struck me how perfectly it captures what's happening with our young roster. The sentiment isn't about blind imitation but rather understanding the deliberate practices and mindset required for excellence. Our subreddit has been buzzing with analysis of Herb Jones' offensive improvement—he's increased his three-point percentage from 29.8% last season to 37.4% this year, a remarkable jump that nobody in our community predicted. I've watched every game this season, and what fascinates me isn't just the statistical improvement but how his shooting form has evolved. There's a clear dedication to replicating successful mechanics, the kind of intentional practice that quote embodies.

What Reddit users keep pointing out—and I wholeheartedly agree—is how our role players have exceeded expectations in ways that remind me of those mentor-protégé relationships in basketball history. I remember watching video breakdowns of Larry Nance Jr.'s defensive positioning last season compared to now, and the improvement is staggering. Our subreddit's film analysis threads have highlighted how he's reduced his fouls per 36 minutes from 3.2 to 2.1 while maintaining elite defensive impact. This isn't accidental; it's the result of studying film with veterans and coaches, of someone showing him "these are the things you'll do" to become an elite defender. The surprise isn't that he improved, but how rapidly he's implemented those lessons.

The most engaging discussions on our subreddit right now center around Jose Alvarado, whose energy and steals per game (1.6 in just 21 minutes) have made him a fan favorite in ways I haven't seen since the height of the "Grand Theft Alvarado" meme era. What surprises me most is how his game has matured beyond just hustle plays. His assist-to-turnover ratio has improved from 2.8 to 3.4, and when I watch him direct traffic in fourth-quarter minutes, I see a player who's internalized the wisdom of those who came before him. There's a beautiful continuity in basketball where knowledge gets passed down, much like that PBA player instructing his son with specific, actionable guidance rather than vague inspiration.

Our community's reaction to Zion Williamson's playmaking development has been particularly fascinating to track. The narrative has shifted from pure dunk highlights to appreciation for his 5.2 assists per game, a career high that places him among the top passing forwards in the league. I've noticed in game threads how fans are now anticipating his pocket passes and skip passes rather than just his explosive finishes. This evolution in his game—and in our appreciation of it—speaks to that deeper basketball truth about following a path others have charted. Great passers like Boris Diaw and Blake Griffin transformed their games similarly, and Zion appears to be studying those blueprints.

What surprises me most in reading through hundreds of comments each week is how our collective understanding of "success" has evolved. We're not just celebrating wins anymore—we're marveling at developmental leaps that suggest sustainable growth. The conversation has matured from "when will we be good?" to "how are we building something lasting?" I've been part of this community through some rough seasons, and this shift in perspective feels significant. When you watch Dyson Daniels improve his three-point percentage by 8.2 percentage points in one offseason or Larry Nance Jr. suddenly becoming a credible three-point threat at 34.7%, you're witnessing the tangible results of players being shown "these are the things you'll do" and committing to that path.

The emotional tone in our game threads has noticeably shifted too. There's less panic during opposing teams' runs, more trust in our role players, and genuine excitement for defensive stops that would have gone unappreciated two seasons ago. I find myself upvoting comments about proper close-out techniques and defensive rotations more than highlight dunks—a change in my own engagement that reflects our community's growing sophistication. We're surprising ourselves with how much we've come to appreciate the fundamentals, the building blocks that create sustainable success.

As the season progresses, what continues to surprise me most is how our Reddit community has become a genuine space for basketball education. The film breakdowns, statistical analysis, and nuanced discussions about player development mirror the very process we're witnessing on the court. We're not just fans cheering—we're students of the game analyzing how our players are implementing those "things you'll do" to transform themselves and our team's prospects. The biggest surprise this season isn't any single statistic or win streak—it's witnessing the organic growth of both our players and our community, bound together by the shared understanding that excellence comes not from imitation but from internalizing and executing proven principles.