Derik Queen made a bold declaration about the 2025 draft class following the Pelicans' 132-135 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. The rookie has been delivering impressive performances in his first season in New Orleans.A reporter asked Queen for his thoughts on the rookies from his draft class during a locker room interview. In his response, the Pelicans' first-year player declared his draft class as the best."Someone said that the next class is gonna be better than us or that's the best class. We're definitely the best class. Up and down the charts, we're gonna be the best class. We have the better players," Queen said.Later, he said that the players from his draft class would commit to improving and form great rivalries. Derik Queen is one of the best rookies in the league right now. He is averaging 12.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game on 49.6% shootingNew Orleans took a gamble on him when they traded their first-round pick this year and a first-round pick next year to Atlanta so they could draft him 13th overall. The Rookie had a slow start to his season, which made the sacrifices the Pelicans made look bleak.However, with his recent show of dominance and his confident statement on Monday, Queen has shut down the rumors that suggested the Pelicans were trading him for a 2026 pick.Derik Queen makes history in a close loss to the SpursThe San Antonio Spurs had overpowered the Pelicans in the first half of their matchup on Monday. However, Derik Queen stepped up his game in the absence of his team's star player, Zion Williamson, to keep the Pels in the game.Queen erupted in the second half, dominating on both ends of the floor. He scored 33 points, collected 10 rebounds, dished out 10 assists and made four successful blocks. He became the first rookie in league history to record a 30-point triple-double with 4 blocks.Few fans applauded the Pelicans' rookie's performance in the close loss."People keep ripping Pelicans for trading a lottery pick next year for a player that’s doing this! That did this correctly, he has it!" one fan said.Eddie A Johnson @Jumpshot8LINKPeople keep ripping Pelicans for trading a lottery pick next year for a player that’s doing this! That did this correctly, he has it!"People were ripping the Pelicans for paying way more than what the league valued the Queen pick. Still, at some point, the pressure is going to transfer to that lottery pick to match Derrick Queen's value. Definitely been a big narrative shift," another fan said."They have a bright future with fears and queen. They don’t have to rely on Zion now," another fan said.Despite Derik Queen's historic performance, the Pelicans (3-22) lost the game. They are on a seven-game losing streak and hold the 15th place in the West.