BALTIMORE — It’s only right that friends and family of Derik Queen, who’s famously from Baltimore, gathered Wednesday night for the NBA draft over bushels of crabs.
“We’re from Baltimore,” said David Knox, Queen’s great-uncle who sat at the head of a long table inside Parkville’s Urban Crab Shack, eagerly awaiting a lifelong dream realized for the city’s nephew. By the eighth overall pick, and with each selection that followed, the room hushed knowing that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver might utter the name any moment.
It’s a shame NBA insiders have the power to tip picks. But the beauty of fast-traveling information is when ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the trade that would send Queen to New Orleans with the 13th overall pick minutes later, it meant the local crowd was ready, phones aimed toward the TV and tears already welling.
“Shh, shh,” they whisper-yelled.
Silver announced the selection at 9:40 p.m. It was met by thunderous cheers that wobbled a few tables.
Queen’s cousin, Shanika Adams, wearing a Maryland “Crab Five” T-shirt, danced about in the middle of the room. Her Instagram Live caught every bit of the action, panning from the big screen to the family gathered behind her.
“Everybody’s excited. Baltimore’s excited,” Knox said. “He’s everybody’s nephew now. He’s going to shine for us. He’s going to make us look real good.”
Queen spent Wednesday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn flanked by family — by blood and by basketball. His mom, Lisa Anderson, mentor, Donnell “Mookie” Dobbins, and former Terps Director of Player Personnel Ricky Harris were among the tight group in the green room.
Queen arrived at this juncture having completed one stellar season at Maryland, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. The 6-foot-9, 247-pound forward became the program’s first draft selection since newly crowned NBA champion Aaron Wiggins (Oklahoma City Thunder) in 2021 and the first player drafted from the city since Bub Carrington (Washington Wizards) this time last year.
“He doesn’t just want to make money playing in the NBA,” Dobbins told The Baltimore Sun last week. “He wants to leave his mark in the NBA.”
Back in Baltimore, extended family rejoiced in Queen’s first step toward that dream.
“It’s surreal,” said Lashelle Stewart, his distant cousin. “We were happy for him to stay home at Maryland and really happy for him to finish up his first year the way he did. It’s just like answering prayers. It couldn’t have happened to a better family member.”
“When Derik was young, he always had the drive. He always wanted to be in the gym. He wanted it bad,” said Darrick Oliver, who coached Queen’s late father, Erik Queen. “I think the sky’s the limit for him. He’ll get much better because he likes to put the work in.”
Team Thrill coach Edward Mazyck had the pleasure of independently coaching father and son. He wore a toothy smile trying to articulate his feelings inside the crab house as the draft got underway.
“Derik’s dad was a hooper,” Mazyck said. “He’s not here with us anymore but I’m sure if he was here today, he would really take pride in this moment to know that Derik has achieved the things he wanted to achieve.”
Queen crossed the stage for a photo-op beside the commissioner then joined his mom for an interview with ESPN’s Monica McNutt. She asked the 20-year-old to rank two of the greatest experiences of his young life: hitting a game-winner in the NCAA Tournament and getting drafted to the NBA.
“Definitely tonight,” Queen said, rubbing his hands eagerly. “I might hit another game winner, you never know. But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
McNutt followed up with a question about what Queen can bring to the table in New Orleans, which finished last season a dismal 21-61. To that, he asserted that the Pelicans are getting a “winner.”
“I feel like I’ve proved that everywhere I went,” he said. “[I’m] a person that’s ready to compete and just play whatever coach need.”
On Queen’s special night, he wore a simple black-and-white suit topped by a double-breasted blazer. On the inside of the jacket, he had “I’m from Baltimore” printed on both sides. Silver diamonds around his wrist accented the look.
At the Urban Crab Shack, there were shirts featuring that signature tagline or “Crab Five.” As the 13th pick approached, folks had already filled up buckets of crab scraps and started to clean off their hands. This was the culmination of a life in basketball they’d watched blossom before their eyes.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Deborah Arthur, another cousin. “We from Baltimore!”