The New Orleans sideline is generally boisterous when something positive happens on the court, with players springing up from their seats on the bench to celebrate a defensive highlight or game-changing basket. The reaction may be even more raucous when a certain third-year center rises above the rim for an alley-oop slam, or drains a three-pointer from his favorite spot – the right corner.

Karlo Matkovic moved into the New Orleans starting lineup after the team’s 0-4 start to the regular season and immediately helped change the results, as the Pelicans beat Sacramento, Atlanta and previously-undefeated Memphis with the 6-foot-10 Croatian in the first unit. The 25-year-old is averaging 15.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals and a block since becoming a starter, topped by his career-high 25-point night in Monday's overtime road victory against the Grizzlies. He shot 5/8 from three-point range and is 8/14 on treys as a starter. Overall, he’s shooting 10/19 from distance, ranking fourth in the NBA at 52.6 percent (via NBA.com, minimum 10 makes).

In addition to those numbers, the vibes Matkovic brings to the locker room and court seem to be boundless.

“I’ve said this about Karlo before, he’s one of those special ones – he’s about everybody else,” Pelicans head coach Jamahl Mosley said of Matkovic’s selfless connection with other players. “He’s about the team. You can see it when he makes a shot, or makes a big play, that his teammates celebrate him. That says everything about him as a human being, but also as a basketball player, that they want to celebrate the work he puts in, because he wants none of the light, but he’s always willing to give it (out). That’s why his teammates will celebrate him the way that they do.”

One challenge for Matkovic since he debuted with the Pelicans in October 2024 has been a lack of consistent playing time. As a rookie, he only played in six of New Orleans’ first 42 games. Last season, he again experienced a lengthy DNP stretch. Even to begin 2026-27, he did not play in the Oct. 21 regular season opener vs. Indiana, then logged single-digit minutes in subsequent defeats to Utah and Denver.

He was a key reserve in a second loss to the Nuggets (18 minutes) on Oct. 28, delivering his usual dose of energy and hustle, setting the stage for Mosley to name him a starter prior to the next night’s first Pelicans victory over Sacramento.

“It’s an awesome feeling,” Matkovic said of being a first-stringer for three straight wins. “I’m blessed to be starting in the NBA, at (this) level. It’s something to be happy about. I cherish it. I enjoy every game. I appreciate the coaches believing in me.”

“(I expect) nothing less from Karlo,” said forward Zion Williamson, who tied Matkovic on Monday with a team-best 25 points in Memphis. “He’s shown that over the years he’s been with us: Whenever his number is called, he always steps up.”

Other notes:

Mosley on center Yves Missi’s progress recovering amid a left knee bone bruise, sustained Oct. 23 in the second game of the season at Utah: “Yves is doing a little bit better. He’s able to get on the floor, get some standstill shooting, moving around a little bit, but still not 100 percent. But his ability to get on the floor and be around these guys has been great.”