Pelicans fans won’t like this Tyrese Maxey draft revelation

The New Orleans Pelicans have been able to pick up some talent in their previous drafts, and the hope is that they can help them win for years to come. When you look back at old drafts, there’s always the “what if” on if a team would’ve selected another player instead of who they actually picked, and Rich Paul may have given Pelicans fans that feeling after his latest podcast.

Paul was talking on his podcast about how he doesn’t like analytics, and he gave an example of the 2020 NBA Draft, when he tried to get the Pelicans to draft Tyrese Maxey.

“When Tyrese Maxey was coming out, I begged the Pelicans [to draft him],” Paul said. “The Pelicans were one of the first teams I allowed in the gym to see Tyrese Maxey. They had the 13th pick.”

Rich Paul says he BEGGED the Pelicans to draft his client Tyrese Maxey at pick 13 in the 2020 draft

The Pelicans passed because the analytics said Tyrese Maxey wasn’t a good enough 3PT shooter at the time

The Pelicans selected PG Kira Lewis Jr instead

(Via Game Over) pic.twitter.com/U7NtlvYaPk

— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) May 25, 2026

Paul said that the Pelicans weren’t impressed with Maxey because of his 3-point shooting.

“‘He don’t really shoot the 3 that well.’ I said, ‘What tape are you watching, because what type of 3s is he shooting?'” Paul said.

To make a long story short, the Pelicans drafted Kira Lewis Jr. with the No. 13 pick, and Maxey was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 21 pick. Fast forward to now, and you can tell who’s having the better career.

Analytics can make or break a team, especially when looking at prospects coming into the draft. That’s why some picks may look more questionable than others, especially early in the first round.

Maxey would’ve been a nice pick for the Pelicans at the No. 13 pick, but other teams also passed on him between then in No. 21. All the blame can’t be put on one team in that scenario, but looking at what Maxey has accomplished in his career so far, he should’ve come off the board earlier.

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