Eric “E.J.” Liddell Jr. is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for Aris Thessaloniki of the Greek Basketball League (GBL) and the EuroCup. He previously played for the Brooklyn Nets on a two-way contract with the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League. Liddell was selected 41st overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans after an outstanding three-season career at Ohio State University. He is known for his defensive versatility, shot-blocking ability, and consistent improvement throughout his collegiate and professional career.
Eric Liddell Jr. Bio
Eric “E.J.” Liddell Jr. was born on December 18, 2000, in Belleville, Illinois. He attended Belleville High School-West, where he developed into one of the top high school prospects in Illinois. During his junior year, Liddell averaged 20.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while winning the 2018 Illinois Mr. Basketball award. He also shared the 2018 St. Louis Post Dispatch Player of the Year honor with Courtney Ramey and led Belleville West to the Illinois 4A class state championship. As a senior, he averaged 20.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game, repeating his state championship victory and earning Illinois Mr. Basketball honors for the second consecutive year. Liddell was rated as a consensus four-star recruit and was ranked as the best player in the state of Illinois. On October 1, 2018, he committed to playing college basketball for Ohio State over scholarship offers from Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
Eric Liddell Jr. Career
Ohio State Buckeyes (2019–2022)
Liddell came off the bench during his freshman year at Ohio State, averaging 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game across 31 games. He was second on the team with 29 blocks and recorded a double-double in a victory against Illinois. During the early parts of his sophomore season, Liddell contracted mononucleosis, which caused him to miss several games. He bounced back with a strong performance, scoring a season-high 26 points in a win against Illinois. Liddell averaged 16.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game during his sophomore season.
On March 31, 2021, Liddell declared for the 2021 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility but later withdrew and returned to Ohio State for his junior season. On January 9, 2022, he scored a career-high 34 points in a 95-87 victory against Northwestern. Liddell was named first-team All-Big Ten and earned third-team All-American honors. As a junior, he averaged 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game. On March 25, 2022, he declared for the 2022 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.
New Orleans Pelicans and Birmingham Squadron (2022–2024)
Liddell was selected in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans with the 41st overall pick. During an NBA Summer League game against the Atlanta Hawks on July 11, 2022, Liddell suffered a torn ACL, which interrupted his rookie campaign before it began. On October 16, 2022, he signed a two-way contract with the Pelicans. After rehabilitation, Liddell appeared in games for both the Pelicans and their NBA G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, during the 2023-2024 season. On July 6, 2023, he signed a multi-year deal with the Pelicans.
Chicago Bulls and Windy City Bulls (2024–2025)
On July 6, 2024, Liddell was traded to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a deal that sent Dejounte Murray to New Orleans. On July 29, 2024, he was subsequently traded to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for David Roddy. On August 27, 2024, Liddell was waived by the Phoenix Suns. On September 7, 2024, he signed with the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls later converted his deal to a two-way contract, allowing him to play for both the NBA team and their G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, during the 2024-2025 season.
Brooklyn Nets and Long Island Nets (2025–2026)
On September 3, 2025, the Brooklyn Nets signed Liddell to a two-way contract. On April 7, 2026, Liddell recorded a career-high 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting during a 96-90 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. The performance demonstrated his continued development as a scoring threat at the NBA level.
Aris Thessaloniki (2026–present)
On June 17, 2026, Liddell signed with Aris Thessaloniki of the Greek Basketball League and the EuroCup, continuing his professional career in European basketball.
Eric Liddell Jr. Career Highlights
Liddell established himself as one of the top players in the Big Ten Conference during his three seasons at Ohio State. He was recognized as a consensus four-star recruit coming out of high school and won the Illinois Mr. Basketball award twice. His defensive prowess earned him Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors in 2022, while his offensive improvements made him a complete two-way player by the end of his collegiate career.
College Honors
Throughout his three seasons at Ohio State, Liddell earned multiple All-Big Ten honors. He received First-team All-Big Ten recognition from both coaches and media in 2022, following his Second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2021. His junior season culminated in First-team All-Big Ten honors, Big Ten All-Defensive Team recognition, and Third-team All-American honors. At the high school level, he won the Illinois 4A state championship twice with Belleville West and was a two-time Illinois Mr. Basketball award winner.
NBA Career
Liddell was selected 41st overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans. After suffering an ACL injury during his first Summer League, he worked through rehabilitation to eventually appear in regular season games. His professional career has included stints with the New Orleans Pelicans, Birmingham Squadron, Chicago Bulls, Windy City Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, Long Island Nets, and most recently Aris Thessaloniki.
| Season | Team | GP | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | New Orleans Pelicans | 11 | 1.3 |
| 2023-24 | Birmingham Squadron | 15 | 10.1 |
| 2024-25 | Wind City Bulls | 28 | 11.1 |
Eric Liddell Jr. Family
Family Background
Liddell comes from a basketball family. His father, Eric Liddell Sr., played college basketball at Northwestern University. His mother is Nicole Jackson, who has been a constant presence throughout his basketball career. The family connection to basketball helped shape Liddell’s early development and understanding of the game.
Eric Liddell Jr. Career Statistics
College Statistics at Ohio State
| Year | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | BPG | FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 31 | 6.7 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 0.9 | .519 |
| 2020-21 | 20 | 16.2 | 6.7 | 1.8 | 1.1 | .553 |
| 2021-22 | 31 | 19.4 | 7.9 | 2.5 | 2.6 | .565 |
All college statistics sourced from Ohio State University athletic records and NCAA verified statistics.