Pelicans lose rookie E.J. Liddell to torn ACL
New York Pelicans rookie E.J. Liddell regarded like he might have been one of many steals of the 2022 NBA draft. Now, he might not swimsuit up in any respect for his rookie 12 months.
The Pelicans introduced Tuesday that Liddell, chosen within the second spherical with the forty first general choose, tore his proper ACL in Monday’s NBA Summer time League recreation in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks. An MRI confirmed the prognosis later that night time.
The damage occurred as Liddell fought for place on a possession within the third quarter. His knee, which he apparently tweaked within the first quarter as properly, clearly buckled as he went down.
Liddell was thought of a possible first-round choose after an Ohio State profession that noticed him earn first-team All-Large Ten honors and scattered All-American nods final season. He averaged 19.4 factors, 7.9 rebounds and a pair of.5 assists per recreation as a junior whereas contributing sufficient on the defensive finish to additionally make the Large Ten’s All-Defensive staff.
Regardless of that success, Liddell slid all the way in which to the Pelicans, probably as a result of a scarcity of dimension as a 6-foot-7 energy ahead. That positioned him to be a possible steal for a younger Pelicans staff, however we are going to now have to attend some time earlier than seeing him in actual NBA motion.
