'I'm blessed, man': New Orleans Pelicans forward E.J. Liddell returns after torn ACL

Prior to his first 2023 NBA Summer League game, E.J. Liddell admitted he was a bit anxious.

"You'll see me smiling, but a lot of nerves," Liddell said. "Just know I'm super excited to be back out there, be able to play, be in front of the lights again."

Liddell's path from Ohio State to the NBA was halted soon after the New Orleans Pelicans made him a second-round draft pick. The 22-year-old suffered a torn ACL in a 2022 Summer League game, which ended his rookie season.

He was healthy and ready for the Pelicans' Summer League opener this year against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he scored nine points with three rebounds in 19 minutes, adding a block and three fouls. Liddell made four of his six attempts from the floor and missed his only 3-point attempt in a 102-88 loss.

It was his first game since signing a three-year, $6.2 million deal with a team option, according to The Athletic. Liddell was on a two-way contract throughout his rookie season as he recovered from his knee injury.

"I'm blessed, man," Liddell said. "Just how far I came. Like last month, I wasn't able to play 5-on-5, but now I can. It's just awesome to be out there, awesome to play with some of those guys that have been playing for a minute and just to get back on the court."

According to Liddell, he leaned on veterans such as C.J. McCollum and Kira Lewis to understand how to best recover from a major injury both physically and mentally.

It's a continuation of what Liddell said he's been doing for the past year on the Pelicans' bench, learning from teammates and opponents who play his position, while also gaining a better understanding of how to scout and prepare for "such a long" NBA season.

Liddell is focused on regaining confidence on the court.

"That's normal coming back from injury, but there is a learning curve," Liddell said. "If I do something once, I feel comfortable doing it again. That's been my whole rehab process."

In three seasons at Ohio State, Liddell shot 48% from the field and 34.1% from 3-point range. He averaged 17.4 points and 7.3 rebounds during the two seasons he started for the Buckeyes, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors both years.

Liddell is one of eight Ohio State players in the NBA, along with Keita Bates-Diop, Malaki Branham, Mike Conley, Micah Potter, Jae'Sean Tate, D'Angelo Russell and Brice Sensabaugh, who was selected with the No. 28 pick in this year's draft by the Utah Jazz.

As he started the process of preparing for the season, Liddell said he wasn't ready to show his "full arsenal." He was still getting back into game shape. But he said he was confident that he would soon be 100%.

"Life is tough," Liddell said. "You know you always ask the question 'Why? Why does it happen to me?' But why not me? It is just another experience because I'm not the first that's going to get injured or the last person to get injured. That's how I look at it."

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: E.J. Liddell, former Ohio State forward, returns to Pelicans after torn ACL