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A burgeoning cross-sport rivalry and a pointed social media exchange have added extra intensity to the upcoming matchup between New Orleans Pelicans center Derik Queen and the Atlanta Hawks. The Pelicans rookie responded to a playful jab from the Atlanta Falcons, setting the stage for a highly anticipated game on January 7, 2026.
The roots of this developing tension run deep within the competitive landscape of Atlanta and New Orleans. While the New Orleans Pelicans and Atlanta Hawks don’t share a traditional NBA rivalry, the intense competition between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints of the NFL often bleeds into other professional sports within the two cities.
Falcons’ Victory Sparks Exchange
On Sunday, November 24, 2025, the Atlanta Falcons defeated the New Orleans Saints 24-10. A key moment in the game came when Falcons defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro sacked Saints quarterback Tyler Shough late in the fourth quarter. The Falcons celebrated the play on X (formerly Twitter) with a post featuring Orhorhoro’s celebration and the caption: “Marked safe from Derik Queen.”
Queen quickly responded to the post, sharing it with his followers alongside the date and time of the Pelicans’ next game against the Hawks: “Jan 7th, 2026 at 6:30pm central time.” https://t.co/ZiLqC0bW3t
A Trade at the Heart of the Matter
The animosity is further fueled by the circumstances of Queen’s arrival in New Orleans. The Pelicans acquired Queen through a trade with the Hawks during the 2025 NBA draft, sending the No. 23 pick and an unprotected 2026 first-round pick to Atlanta for the No. 13 pick, which was used to select the former Maryland Terrapins center. Queen acknowledged the context of the Falcons’ post when replying to an explanation provided by X’s Grok AI.
Recent On-Court History
The Hawks previously defeated the Pelicans 115-98 on Saturday, November 23, 2025. Despite the loss, Queen showcased his potential, scoring 20 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and recording 2 steals. This performance marked his third consecutive game with 20 or more points, a feat not achieved by a Pelicans player since Zion Williamson during the 2019-20 season, according to ESPN Research.
The victories by both Atlanta teams in New Orleans prompted further playful exchanges between fans of the respective franchises. However, Queen will have the opportunity to deliver the ultimate response on the court – the January 7th matchup is the final scheduled game between the Pelicans and Hawks for the 2025-26 season.
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