Saddiq Bey has become one of the best stories of the New Orleans Pelicans’ season. The forward, who missed the whole of last season with a torn ACL, is now playing the best basketball of his career, and his recent performances have put him firmly in the conversation for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award.
The Overtime Heroics Against Utah
Bey’s breakout moment came in the Pelicans’ 120-113 overtime win over the Utah Jazz. He scored 22 points, with eight of them coming in overtime, including six straight points in the final minutes that turned the game New Orleans’ way. Zion Williamson scored 23 points, all after half-time, as the Pelicans overturned a 13-point deficit to win their fourth game in a row after losing their first four.
Bey’s off-balance six-footer, which rolled all the way around the rim before dropping with 39 seconds left, put the Pelicans 116-110 ahead and sealed the win. It was the kind of clutch moment that defines a player’s season, and Bey admitted afterwards that he was simply trying to win the game.
A Reliable Scorer Off the Bench
Bey’s form has been consistent rather than a one-off. He followed the Utah game with 17 points in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, scoring 12 of them in the fourth quarter, and then added 13 points off the bench in a 139-123 defeat to the LA Clippers. Coming into this week he was averaging 16.1 points in 27 minutes per game, a strong return for a player who often leads the second unit.
His season high of 25 points came in a win over the Atlanta Hawks, when he also grabbed six rebounds and made four steals, one short of his career best. Coach Jamahl Mosley has praised Bey as the ultimate professional, and his positive influence in the locker room has been just as valuable as his scoring.
A Bigger Role With Injuries Mounting
Bey’s importance to the Pelicans has only grown with injuries elsewhere in the squad. With Trey Murphy and Zion Williamson both sidelined, Bey moved into the starting line-up for the game against the Golden State Warriors, alongside Jeremiah Fears, Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones, and Karlo Matkovic. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, his minutes and his responsibility keep rising.
That trust is no surprise given the faith the Pelicans showed him last season. Bey was rewarded with a three-year, $55.5 million contract extension for his play before the injury, and he has repaid that faith by returning as the most productive player of his career so far.
The Long Road Back From Injury
Bey’s rise this season is all the more impressive given what he has come through. He missed the entire 2024-25 season recovering from a torn ACL, an injury that can end careers as well as seasons. His return has been built on patience and hard work behind the scenes, and it shows in the way he plays: efficient, composed, and willing to do the unglamorous work of defending and rebounding as well as scoring.
Before the injury, Bey had already shown he belonged in the league, and the Pelicans’ decision to extend his contract while he was sidelined was a sign of how much they valued him. That faith is now being repaid on the court, night after night.
What Comes Next for Bey
If Bey keeps up this level, the Sixth Man of the Year race will have a serious new contender. His scoring, his rebounding, and his calm in big moments give the Pelicans a weapon few teams can match from the bench. For a player who spent a whole season watching from the sidelines, this is a comeback story worth following, and the best may still be to come. For more celebrity and sports news, visit our homepage.