In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, brothers Rafael and James Barlowe go back and forth on one of the most polarizing prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft: Derik Queen. While both acknowledge Queen’s undeniable talent and production, they have very different perspectives on how he projects to the next level.
Rafael raises concerns about how Queen’s game will scale up to the NBA, questioning his fit in the modern league despite his skill level. Meanwhile, James is fully bought in, arguing that Queen is the most skilled big man we’ve seen in years and has no reservations about his NBA future. The debate escalates when Rafael challenges James: If you’re so high on Queen, why not rank him ahead of Khaman Maluach? While Queen is more skilled, Rafael points out that Maluach’s size and translatable game make his NBA fit more seamless.
Stay tuned for an intense debate as the Barlowe brothers break down Queen’s dominant 29-point, 15-rebound, 5-assist performance against Rutgers, his NBA fit, and where he should be ranked in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Timestamps & Key Topics
2:24 – Difficult Evaluations introduction
3:05 – The debate: Is Derik Queen a difficult or easy evaluation?
12:39 – Breaking down Queen’s dominant performance vs. Rutgers
19:32 – How does Queen’s game fit in the NBA?
Final Segment – Draft range: How high should Queen be selected in 2025?