Brandon Boston · Often describing himself as a player who learned dribbling before anything else, Brandon Boston Jr. found said handle quite useful against both Orlando’s top-ranked defense, and the pressures of surviving New Orleans’ rotation just weeks after being signed. Making considerable use of his increased opportunity, Boston flashes his creation skills by countering Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s hounding resistance with a slippery behind-the-back, between-the-leg combination, testing the long-respected defender’s footspeed. Muting noticeably-celebratory chants and claps along the Orlando Magic’s sidelines after Caldwell-Pope stays closely attached, Boston breaks out a deceptive stepback before connecting on a well-earned long 2-pointer. The New Orleans Pelicans’ newly-acquired talent likened 2024-25’s early-season start to “a movie,” and, even in defeat, he played the role of co-star in his fifth-consecutive game with at least 14 points. In his highest-scoring game since 2021, Boston tallied 26 points (on 10-of-17 shooting), six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two 3-pointers on November 8, 2024. · State of Mint