Eric “E. J.” Liddell Jr. is a promising American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Let’s delve into his journey from early life to his professional career.

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Quick Facts

Full Name	Eric “E. J.” Liddell Jr.
Nick Name	E.J.
Date of Birth	December 18, 2000
Age	22
Birth Place	Belleville, Illinois, U.S.
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	NA
Father’s Name	Eric Liddell Sr.
Mother’s Name	Michelle Rucker
Siblings	Myah, Erica, and Myles
Zodiac Sign	NA
Height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight	240 lb (109 kg)
High School	Belleville West (Belleville, Illinois)
University	Ohio State
Religion	NA
Girlfriend	Single
Children	None
Profession	Professional Basketball Player
NBA Draft	2022: 2nd round, 41st overall pick
League	NBA
Position	Power forward
Team	New Orleans Pelicans
Jersey Number	NA
Playing Career	2022–present
Net Worth	$1 Million – $2 Million
Merch	NA
Achievements and College Awards	– Third-team All-American (AP, USBWA, NABC, SN)
	– First-team All-Big Ten (Media, Coaches)
	– Big Ten All-Defensive Team
	– Illinois Mr. Basketball (2018, 2019)
NBA Draft	Selected 41st overall by New Orleans Pelicans
Social Media	Instagram

E. J. Liddell Early Life and High School Career

Eric “E. J.” Liddell Jr. was born in Belleville, Illinois, on December 18, 2000. He grew up in Belleville and attended Belleville High School-West. During his junior year, Liddell showcased his basketball prowess by averaging 20.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. His outstanding performance earned him the prestigious 2018 Illinois Mr. Basketball award. He also shared the 2018 St. Louis Post Dispatch Player of the Year title with Courtney Ramey and contributed to his team’s victory in the Illinois 4A class state championship.

In his senior year of high school, Liddell continued to shine, averaging 20.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game. He clinched the Illinois Mr. Basketball award for the second consecutive year, was named the St. Louis Post Dispatch Player of the Year again, and helped secure another Illinois 4A class state championship.

Recruiting

Liddell was highly sought after by college programs, earning a consensus four-star recruit rating and being ranked as the top player in Illinois. He ultimately committed to play college basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes on October 1, 2018, despite receiving scholarship offers from other prestigious teams such as Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

E. J. Liddell College Career

During his first year at Ohio State, Liddell came off the bench and contributed significantly, averaging 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He played in all 31 games and displayed his defensive prowess with 29 blocks. Notably, he recorded a double-double in a win against Illinois.

Liddell faced a setback in his sophomore season when he contracted mononucleosis, causing him to miss several games. Despite this, he had standout performances, including a season-high 26 points against Illinois. His sophomore season averages were 16.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game.

Liddell faced adversity when he received threats from basketball fans via social media after Ohio State’s Round of 64 loss to Oral Roberts. He reported these threats to law enforcement, highlighting the challenges and pressures faced by student-athletes.

On March 31, 2021, Liddell declared for the 2021 NBA draft while retaining his college eligibility. However, he later withdrew from the draft and returned to Ohio State for his junior season. During this season, he achieved a career-high 34 points in a game against Northwestern and was named to the First Team All-Big Ten.

As a junior, Liddell averaged impressive statistics, including 19.4 pts, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game. On March 25, 2022, EJ declared for the NBA draft 2022, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.

Professional Career

In the 2022 NBA draft, Eric “E. J.” Liddell Jr. was picked in the second round as the 41st overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans. His professional journey began with the Pelicans, and during an NBA Summer League game on July 11, 2022, he unfortunately suffered a torn ACL.

However, despite the setback, Liddell persevered, and on October 16, 2022, he signed a two-way contract with the Pelicans. His dedication and hard work paid off when, on July 6, 2023, he signed a multi-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, solidifying his place in the NBA as a power forward.

Personal Life and Relationship 

Eric “E. J.” Liddell Jr. proudly acknowledges his parents, Michelle Rucker and Eric Liddell, as his biggest support system throughout his basketball journey. While there is limited information about his parents, it is evident that they played a significant role in nurturing his passion for the sport.

Liddell also shares a close bond with his siblings, including two sisters, Myah and Erica, and a brother named Myles.

Regarding his relationship status, Liddell is single and focused on improving and building his basketball career.

Net Worth and Salary

Liddell’s projected salary with the New Orleans Pelicans is as follows:

• 2023/24: $1,801,769

• 2024/25: $2,120,693

• 2025/26: $2,301,587

Notably, he is expected to earn 254.05 percent more than his 2022/23 salary. Additionally, Liddell is ranked as the 438th best-paid NBA player in the current year, a significant climb from his previous ranking as the 494th best-paid player.

His agents are Bill Duffy and Justin Haynes. These figures illustrate his growing success and value as a professional basketball player.