Edmond Sumner’s rookie season has been anything but typical for a first-year player in professional basketball. He suffered a torn ACL last year while at Xavier University, so most of 2017 was spent rehabbing and getting through the mental challenges of being away from the game he loves.

The Pacers acquired a second second-round pick on draft night and used the pick from New Orleans to select Sumner 52nd overall. Because of the injury, he was still around then.

Sumner became the first player in Pacers franchise history to be signed to a two-way contract, which allows him to be part of the Pacers and Mad Ants of the G League — and it prevents another NBA club from signing them to their roster like can be done for G League contracts.

Sumner returned to game action two weeks ago and has appeared in five games, though he is limited to about 15 minutes per game. He is averaging 6.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting nearly 42 percent from the field.

See Also: Sumner signs with new agent

It was good to catch up with the 22-year-old guard to discuss the highs and lows of his rookie season, plus how he’s getting along with the Mad Ants.

Looking forward to that 2018 return 👀 pic.twitter.com/paaLgWW0yO— Edmond Sumner (@EdmondSumner) December 31, 2017

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Topics Discussed:

* The challenge of rehab and returning from injury

* Rookie duties

* His movie watching, and music preference before games

* Following his 20-3 Xavier Musketeers from afar

* Glenn Robinson III joining the Mad Ants for a game