Jeremiah Fears shouldn’t have even started his college basketball career yet, but he’s already raising eyebrows in the NBA as a former Oklahoma great.
Fears made an impressive NBA debut on Wednesday night in the New Orleans Pelicans’ 128-122 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, but fans wouldn't have even been able to tell Fears is a rookie, let alone one of the youngest players in the NBA.
Former Oklahoma star Jeremiah Fears makes NBA debut
Fears, a guard, came off the bench and played 18 minutes in his first regular-season NBA action. Despite five New Orleans players playing over 30 minutes, Fears was still tied for second on the team with 17 points. NBA All-Star Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 27, while two other players matched Fears’ point total.
He was 7-for-10 from the field while missing his only 3-point attempt and making all three free throws while thriving in the paint. Fears also added two assists.
Jeremiah Fears should just now be starting his college career, but instead, he looks like this as an NBA rookie. 📈📈pic.twitter.com/8m9fRfUSwj
— Stormin In Norman (@StorminInNorman) October 23, 2025
Fears was at Oklahoma for just one season before being the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He reclassified from the 2025 recruiting class to 2024 to skip his senior year of high school and start his college career a year early just days after turning 18.
Despite being so young, Fears still led the Sooners with 17.1 points a game, plus 4.1 assists from the point, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals, to earn SEC All-Freshman honors in the Sooners’ first year in a historically loaded SEC. OU ended its NCAA Tournament drought thanks to Fears’ talent.
For now as a rookie, Fears is the Pelicans’ backup point guard behind seven-year veteran Jordan Poole, who’s in his first season in New Orleans. The Pelicans will play the San Antonio Spurs next at 7 p.m. CT Friday for Fears’ first home game.