Edmond Sumner

Edmond Sumner's Biography

Edmond Byron Sumner was born on the last day of 1995 in the United States. From his early years, he showed a passion for basketball, peaking as a professional player for the Sichuan Blue Whales. This team is a part of the renowned Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), contributing to Sumner’s growing international reputation.

Prior to his grand debut onto the international court, Sumner attended Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio to kick-start his collegiate basketball career. Here, he played three invigorating seasons from 2014 to 2017 for the Xavier Musketeers, a competitive and respected group on campus. Sumner did not content himself with mediocrity throughout his tenure there as he managed to average 15.0 points per game during his junior year, demonstrating the aptitude, commitment, and promise he held for the sport.

Sumner’s basketball crusade took an adverse turn in January 2017 when an injury rendered him unable to play for the remainder of the season following an 82-77 victory against St. John’s. At this point in his college career, Sumner had been consistent in his statistics, averaging 14.9 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game. Chronic knee tendonitis, an ailment he faced in his freshman year that limited him to just six games, seemed to have dealt him another blow.

After a period of recovery, rejuvenation and anticipation, Sumner declared for the 2017 NBA draft on March 28, 2017, and emerged as the 52nd overall draft pick. Initially chosen by the New Orleans Pelicans, he was promptly traded to the Indiana Pacers for cash considerations less than three months later on June 23, 2017. This marked the onset of Sumner’s career in the NBA, which started with a landmark two-way contract that he signed with the Pacers on July 5, 2017. This contract was noteworthy, as he was the first second-round draft pick to sign such a deal.

During the 2017-2018 season, Sumner faced challenges concerning his game time. Despite these struggles, he displayed resilience and determination playing for the Pacers’ G-League team which further boosted his skills. The next season also began with limited minutes, but the landscape shifted in his favor when Victor Oladipo, his teammate, suffered a season-ending injury. Seizing this opportunity to mark his presence, his playing time increased dramatically, culminating in his first NBA start against the Golden State Warriors.

In February 2019, a standard NBA contract was signed, believed to be a two-year pact. In late June, Sumner declined his $1.6 million team option and instead inked a three-year contract worth $6.48 million with the Pacers on July 29.

Following these successes, the 2020-2021 season saw brought his average to 7.5 points and 1.8 rebounds per game, shooting about 52.5 percent from the floor. In April 2021, his talents were on full display as he posted consecutive 20-point games against two determining teams, showcasing his continued development and ascension in the sport. An unfortunate injury in September 2021, a torn Achilles tendon, put him on an indefinite recovery break.

As of October 6, 2021, Sumner has diversified his team experience by being traded alongside a 2025 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for draft rights to Juan Pablo Vaulet. Four days after being traded, he was waived by the Nets. Nine months later, the Nets re-signed Sumner, which indicated the value he brought to the team.

However, the journey was not without its bumps. On July 15, 2023, Sumner was waived by the Nets. He subsequently signed with the Charlotte Hornets in late September 2023, but once more, things took a downturn when he was waived by the team on October 24, 2023.

Exploring new international avenues, Sumner joined the Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) and the EuroLeague on November 29, 2023. Continuing his international career, Sumner joined the Sichuan Blue Whales of the Chinese Basketball Association. Though his journey has had its share of trials and tribulations, Edmond Sumner’s biography showcases the spirit of a talented player fought against adversity to make his mark in the game of basketball.