The No. 21 pick out of Baylor, Missi has a chance to start right out of the gate as a rookie. Jonas Valanciunas left for Washington in free agency, opening up a huge hole in New Orleans' frontcourt. While Zion Williamson and Herbert Jones may play some small-ball five at times, the Pelicans will need one of their centers to step up if they hope to make a postseason run. Trey Jemison was claimed off waivers this offseason and provided a spark to the injury-riddled Grizzlies late last season. Daniel Theis is another new addition, but it's unclear how many minutes the veteran will be able to play on a nightly basis. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl returns for a second season in New Orleans but averaged only 8.6 minutes across 39 appearances last season. Karlo Matkovic, a draft-and-stash pick from the 2022 NBA Draft, is also in the picture after joining the Pelicans' G League affiliate late in the 2023-24 season and participating in the 2024 Vegas Summer League. That's the extent of Missi's competition for playing time. Obviously, New Orleans will be in the market for frontcourt options as the season moves along, but it appears like Missi has a great opportunity to earn a substantial role. Missi's rim-protecting ability was on display during Summer League, but he's a very raw offensive player. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a two-year, $6.55 million contract with the Pelicans in July of 2024. Contract includes $3.51 million team option for 2026-27.
Personal Bio/PreCareer Summary
Missi a bouncy center with Belgian-Cameroonian origins who played his high school ball at Prolific Prep in California. Born in Belgium before moving to Cameroon for his childhood, Missi ultimately blossomed into a five-star recruit and graded as ESPN's 13th-best player in the 2023 class. He earned Big 12 All-Defensive and All-Freshman honors in 2024, finishing his one-and-done campaign with averages of 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in just 23.0 minutes per game while shooting 61.4% from the field and generating 4.1 free-throw attempts per game. A dangerous rim-runner, Missi ranked eighth in the nation with 76 dunk attempts this season. Deriving 32.2% of his offensive possessions from rolling in pick-and-roll plays marked the 17th-highest frequency in the nation, displaying a clear niche to translate to the pros. Another 34.4% of Missi's possessions came via offensive rebounding and cuts around the basket, so he profiles strictly as a play-finisher at this time. His 14.4% offensive rebounding rate was the 32nd-highest mark in the nation. In addition to his rim presence on offense, Missi's 7.1% block rate ranked 66th in the nation. The big man was also able to protect the rim at a high level without fouling out of a single game in 34 appearances. Missi compiled a 12/39 assist-to-turnover ratio, but his 12.0% turnover rate was a relatively clean number. Nonetheless, that figure indicates Missi will not be able to step in as a short-roll passer and decision-maker out of screening action. Getting downhill, generating extra possessions and making his presence felt in the paint on both ends - in the same vein as Dereck Lively II - will be Missi's role. Lively was a better offensive player last season at Duke, but he is a good physical comparison for Missi, so somewhere between Lively and Nick Richards profiles as a plausible expectation for the Baylor big.
Good to go against Dallas
CNew Orleans Pelicans
February 21, 2025
Missi (knee) is listed as available for Friday's game versus the Mavericks.
ANALYSIS Missi is set to play Friday despite suffering a right knee hyperextension in New Orlean's final outing before the All-Star break. The rookie center averages 6.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 26.8 minutes across his previous 10 appearances.
2024 NBA Per Game Split Stats - Starting/Off Bench
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2024 NBA Per Game Split Stats - Days Rest
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2024 NBA Per Game Split Stats - Vs Opp
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2024 NBA Per Game Split Stats - By Result
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Advanced Stats
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2024
Stat Review
How does Yves Missi compare to other players?
This section compares his stats with all players from the previous three seasons (minimum 200 minutes played)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
True Shooting %
An advanced statistic that measures a player's efficiency at shooting the ball that takes field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and three point percentage into account.
Effective Field Goal %
A statistic that adjusts field goal percentage to account for the fact that three-point field goals count for three points while field goals only count for two points.
3-Point Attempt Rate
Percentage of field goal attempts from three point range.
Free Throw Rate
Number of free throw attempts per field goal attempt.
Offensive Rebound %
An estimate of the percentage of available offensive rebounds a player grabbed while they were on the floor.
Defensive Rebound %
An estimate of the percentage of available defensive rebounds a player grabbed while they were on the floor.
Total Rebound %
An estimate of the percentage of available rebounds a player grabbed while they were on the floor.
Assist %
An estimate of the percentage of teammate field goals a player assisted while they were on the floor.
Steal %
An estimate of the percentage of opponent possessions that end with a steal by the player while they were on the floor.
Block %
An estimate of the percentage of opponent two-point field goal attempts blocked by the player while they were on the floor.
Turnover %
An estimate of turnovers committed per 100 plays.
Usage %
An estimate of the percentage of team plays used by a player while they were on the floor.
Fantasy Points Per Game
NBA Fantasy Points Per Game.
Fantasy Points Per Minute
NBA Fantasy Points Per Minute.
True Shooting %
57.3%
Effective Field Goal %
54.4%
3-Point Attempt Rate
0.3%
Free Throw Rate
41.3%
Offensive Rebound %
13.2%
Defensive Rebound %
18.9%
Total Rebound %
16.0%
Assist %
7.1%
Steal %
0.8%
Block %
5.0%
Turnover %
11.7%
Usage %
13.4%
Fantasy Points Per Game
25.0
Fantasy Points Per Minute
0.9
Total
Per Game
Per 36
NBA Historical Fantasy Stats
How are these ratings calculated?
Our historical fantasy ratings are standard scores calculated using 8-Category settings with 12 teams and 13 players per team.
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NBA Per Game Historical Fantasy Stats
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NBA Per 36 Historical Fantasy Stats
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Historical ADP
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Pelicans Depth Chart
Our full team depth charts are reserved for RotoWire subscribers.
Average Fantasy Points are determined when Yves Missi was active vs. non-active during the season. Click here to view average fantasy points for a different time period.
Minutes
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo
FantasyDraft
Head2Head
Sorare
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More Fantasy News
Questionable for Friday
CNew Orleans Pelicans
Knee
February 20, 2025
Missi (knee) is questionable for Friday's game against the Pelicans.
ANALYSIS Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Dealing with hyperextended knee
CNew Orleans Pelicans
Knee
February 14, 2025
The Pelicans announced Friday that Missi has been diagnosed with a right knee hyperextension, after an MRI taken Thursday revealed no structural damage. Missi is scheduled to be re-evaluated in one week.
ANALYSIS Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Picks up knee injury
CNew Orleans Pelicans
Knee
February 13, 2025
Missi won't return to Thursday's game against the Kings due to a right knee injury. He registered two points (1-2 FG), two rebounds and one block in 12 minutes before departing.
ANALYSIS Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Four rejections against Sacramento
CNew Orleans Pelicans
February 9, 2025
Missi produced two points (1-6 FG), 13 rebounds, one assist and four blocks in 32 minutes during Saturday's 123-118 loss to the Kings.
ANALYSIS Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Fails to score in loss
CNew Orleans Pelicans
January 29, 2025
Missi totaled zero points (0-4 FG), seven rebounds, one assist and four blocks in 29 minutes during Wednesday's 137-136 loss to the Mavericks.
ANALYSIS Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Named to Rising Stars
CNew Orleans Pelicans
January 29, 2025
The NBA announced Tuesday that Missi was selected to the Rising Stars Game.
ANALYSIS This was likely an easy decision, as Missi is a strong contender for Rookie of the Year. The No. 21 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft has run away with the starting job in New Orleans, posting averages of 9.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.5 blocks in 26.8 minutes while hitting 56.6 percent from the field.