Pelicans can't escape rookie injury fate, 21-year-old rookie Liddell will be out indefinitely after surgery

2022-07-27 11:48

Pelicans can't escape rookie injury fate, 21-year-old rookie Liddell will be out indefinitely after surgery


The New Orleans Pelicans officially announced today that 21-year-old rookie forward E.J. Liddell, who was injured in summer league, has undergone surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Continued absences won't be featured in the new season.


Liddell averaged 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.6 blocks in his final college season before he was selected by the Pelicans with the 41st overall pick in this year's league draft. Beginning to represent the Las Vegas Summer League, Liddell averaged 4 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist in the game.


Unfortunately, the rookie forward suffered a serious knee injury in a game against the Atlanta Hawks on July 12, when Liddell tried to get an open space to distract defenders, only to land on the ground with a terrifying right leg. He fell to the ground in a bent state, and was pressed forward by the defender, causing his weight to fall on his misplaced knee, causing serious injury. After falling to the ground, he gripped his right knee in pain and needed the support of his teammates. Stand up to the locker room.


On the second day of Liddell's injury, the team used an MRI to check the extent of his injury. It was serious and must undergo surgical reconstruction, so Liddell underwent surgery today to reconstruct the torn ACL in his right knee.


It was in 2019 that the Pelicans rookie suffered such a serious injury before the new season. At that time, Zion Williamson, the No. 1 pick, was extremely explosive, but the weight problem caused the excessive load on his legs to cause injury problems one after another. The absence of James' successor, hailed as the league's future star, has affected the Pelicans' winning percentage.


With Liddell undergoing surgery, it is not yet clear whether he will enter the Pelicans' regular-season roster next season. The forward was originally able to sign a two-way contract with the team to continue to play in the league and the Development League, but the injury problem will Make him miss this contract and be excluded from the Pelicans' 15-player roster for the new season. Although Liddell's recovery time has not been determined, if he can return from injury in time, he is expected to represent the Pelicans before January next year.