On April 10th, end of the NBA regular season means bench players and two-way guys get their shot, especially on tanking teams like the Brooklyn Nets. EJ Liddell, a 25-year-old forward, has been killing it in their last three games, stepping up big time with more minutes. Over those games, he's averaged 29 minutes, 20.7 points, and 6.3 rebounds, shooting 69% from the field, 64 from three, and 85 from the line. He's led the Nets in scoring and field goals, helping them go two wins and one loss.
Liddell's on his third team in three years, but his G League stint with the Long Island Nets has been his best 17.6 points, 8.3 boards, and 1.3 blocks per game. Injuries to guys like Nick Claxton opened the door for the Ohio State product. Recently, he dropped a career-high 26 points on the Pacers, using his 6'6, 240-pound frame to post up and score from anywhere. Rookies Ben Serif and Nolan Traore have fed him perfectly in pick-and-rolls, creating mismatches.
If Liddell keeps this up through the Nets' final two games tonight against the Bucs, then the Raptors, he could earn a full NBA deal, just like another G-leaguer did recently. Stay locked in with NBA news today, AI-powered updates. I'm Corey with the story.