Photo: NBA.com
Former Ohio State basketball star E.J. Liddell went down with a season ending injury in Tuesday's summer league game against Atlanta. The New Orleans Pelicans second-round pick was playing in his second game of the Summer League after a disappointing 2-point performance in his debut on the 9th. Liddell suffered a knee injury in the first quarter of the game but would return in the second half to continue playing. He didn't last much longer in the third quarter as he suffered a torn ACL while attempting to post up.
E.J. Liddell was in the midst of a 3-3, 6-point, 4 rebound, 2 assist performance in just twelve minutes of play against Atlanta and was looking like his usual self that Buckeye fans came to know and love. New Orleans announced after the game that he did suffer a torn ACL and would miss the entire regular season. As a second round pick Liddell needed the Summer League to earn his minutes for the regular season with the Pelicans. Now due to this unfortunate injury the career of Liddell may be in jeopardy. Second rounders do not normally get second chances in the NBA and the situation may become that he will return next season and play for the Birmingham Squadron, the teams G-League affiliate team. E.J. Liddell, Buckeye fans, and Pelicans fans are all hoping that he has a speedy return and can come back fully healthy and play in the NB and turn 2023 into a rookie year that propels him to a successful NBA career.
