When the New Orleans Pelicans called out Yves Missi’s name at the 21st pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, the consensus was simple: he’s a project. Everyone thought he’d be spending his nights in the G League, learning how to exist in an NBA spacing. Instead, he basically took over the starting center spot in a week.
Last year was a whirlwind. He finished his rookie campaign with 67 starts in 73 games, averaging 9.1 points and 8.2 boards. If you check the Yves Missi game log for that first year, you’ll see a kid who looked like a seasoned vet by February. But fast forward to the 2025-26 season, and the numbers look… different. Weirdly different.
Honestly, the surface-level stats tell a story of regression, but they’re lying to you.
The Reality of the 2025-26 Yves Missi Game Log
If you just glance at the box scores from the first half of this season, you’ll see his minutes dropped from nearly 27 per game to around 17. His scoring fell to 5.2 points. On paper, it looks like he’s losing his grip on the rotation.
But you've gotta look at the context. The Pelicans brought in help. They signed Kevon Looney to stabilize the frontcourt. They shifted their offensive focus toward a heavier dose of Trey Murphy and Zion Williamson. Missi isn't "worse"—he’s just being asked to do something much more specific.
Let’s look at his last five games as of mid-January 2026:
- Jan 11 vs Magic: 7 points, 5 rebounds, 4 blocks in 18 minutes.
- Jan 9 vs Wizards: 3 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists in 13 minutes.
- Jan 7 vs Hawks: 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal in 24 minutes.
- Jan 6 vs Lakers: 8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists in 16 minutes.
- Jan 4 vs Heat: 6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block in 17 minutes.
Look at that Orlando game. Four blocks in 18 minutes? That’s absurd efficiency. He’s becoming a "per-minute" monster even if the "per-game" totals are shrinking.
Efficiency Over Volume
Missi is actually shooting a career-high 57.4% from the field this year. He’s stopped trying to do too much. Last year, he was thrown into the fire and had to figure out how to score. This year, basically every shot he takes is a dunk or a high-percentage putback.
His offensive rebounding percentage remains elite. He's currently grabbing 2.7 offensive boards per game despite the limited floor time. That puts him in the top tier of the league for guys playing under 20 minutes. He’s a vertical spacer. He’s a rim runner. He’s exactly what a modern NBA team needs from a backup big who might eventually become a starter again once the roster reshuffles.
Why the Defensive Impact is Scary
Most people get obsessed with points. It's the easiest thing to see on a Yves Missi game log. But his defensive impact is where the real value hides. Last year, he had this wild stat where he had more blocks than fouls through his first few games. Centers usually foul everything when they first enter the league. Missi didn't.
He’s maintained that discipline. Even with fewer minutes, he’s still swatting 1.2 shots a night. If you scale that to 36 minutes, he’s basically a top-five rim protector in the Western Conference.
The Pelicans’ defensive rating is significantly better when he’s on the floor compared to when they go small. He has this knack for knowing when to help and when to stay home. It’s a "feel" for the game that you usually can't teach a 21-year-old.
Handling the Sophomore Slump Narrative
Is it a slump if your role changes? Probably not.
Missi admitted himself that he wanted to work on his free throws—he shot a dismal 62.3% as a rookie. This year, it’s actually dipped a bit further to 56.8%. That’s a problem. If he can’t hit a foul shot, he’s a liability in the final four minutes of a close game. Hack-a-Missi is a real thing coaches are starting to look at.
But he’s 6'11" and can jump out of the gym. You take the bad with the good.
Notable Games and Career Highs
When you're digging through his history, a few performances stand out as the "blueprint" for what he can become.
- The Phoenix Outburst: In February 2025, he dropped a career-high 24 points on the Suns. He was catching everything. Alley-oops, dump-offs, it didn't matter.
- The San Antonio Board-Fest: He grabbed 15 rebounds against the Spurs. He’s always played well against San Antonio, for some reason. Maybe it's the challenge of going up against Victor Wembanyama that gets him hyped.
- The Block Party: His career high is 5 blocks in a single game. He’s matched or come close to that multiple times, including that recent 4-block performance against Orlando.
What's Next for Yves Missi?
The Pelicans are in a weird spot. They’re hovering around the play-in tournament, and they need consistency. Missi provides that on the glass, but the team needs more than just five points from the center position if they want to make a real run.
He has to become more "powerful" when he goes up, as he said in the preseason. Sometimes he settles for a soft layup when he should be trying to break the rim. If he adds 10 pounds of muscle and keeps that lateral quickness, he’s a starting center in this league for the next decade.
Keep an eye on his game log for the "minutes" column. If he starts creeping back toward 22-25 minutes, it means the coaching staff has finally decided his defense outweighs his offensive limitations.
To get the most out of following Missi's progression, watch his Offensive Rebound (OREB) count specifically. If he’s getting 3+ OREBs in a game, New Orleans usually wins or stays very competitive because of those extra possessions. Also, check his Fouls (PF); if he stays under 3 while playing significant minutes, it means his defensive positioning is improving.
