Yves Missi

As is often said by anyone invested in the New Orleans Pelicans, No. 21 pick Yves Missi is only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. In the meantime, the Belgium-born big man made certain that the Indiana Pacers’ ambitious drivers knew that he had no problem reaching the ceiling. Seemingly positioned in a rim protector’s nightmare scenario — almost completely under the rim with a highflyer rapidly approaching — Missi accepts the challenge of meeting Aaron Nesmith’s full-steam-ahead drive head on, timing his leap at the apex for a physical swat. No. 1 in both double-doubles and blocked shots among rookies at the season’s halfway point, Missi matched eye test excellence with brilliance on the box score, even in a losing effort on November 25, 2024. In one of his most productive Year One showings, Missi collected 16 points (on 7-of-11 shooting), 13 rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and a +26 plus-minus in 31 minutes of action.

Rookie Year

Rookie Mint