Pelicans sign No. 58 overall pick Jaron Pierre Jr. to two-way contract

Former SMU guard Jaron Pierre Jr., the 58th overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft, signed a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, the team announced.

Marc Stein of The Stein Line first reported the signing.

Pierre was an All-ACC honorable mention last season, averaging 17.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and one steal while shooting 37% from 3-point range. He ranked fifth in the conference in field goals (222) and seventh in points (599).

The 24-year-old registered 13 20-point games with the Mustangs, including a season-high 35-point performance in a win over Texas A&M on Dec. 7. He finished with the eighth-most 3s (80) and the 10th-most points in a season in program history.

📝 https://t.co/3PnAXiyRXW

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) July 23, 2026

Pierre played the first two years of his collegiate career at Southern Mississippi and then spent one year each at Wichita State and Jacksonville State before transferring to SMU. He was the 2025 Conference USA Player of the Year with the Gamecocks.

The 6-foot-5 Pierre debuted with the Pelicans in the NBA Summer League, averaging 10 points and 1.7 rebounds while shooting 27% from the field in three games. He recorded 10 or more points twice, including a 16-point effort on July 12.

Pierre will split his time next season between the NBA and the Laketown Squadron in the G League. He is eligible to play up to 50 games in the NBA and will earn $678,882, which is 50% of the minimum salary for a player with zero years of service.

This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Pelicans sign No. 58 overall pick Jaron Pierre Jr. to two-way contract