Vegas: It's Personal for Livingston

By: Susan Bible Last Updated: 7/17/09 6:45 PM ET | 355 times read



Adjust font size:It's just remarkable that Shaun Livingston has made his way back to the NBA. That's really an understatement. After the horrific freak knee injury he suffered as a Clipper a couple years ago, not many people, if any, thought he would ever don a uniform in league play again. "Partial amputation" was a term he heard after the injury…just incredible that he's back. The guy is a study in perseverance and faith.

Livingston may not return to the player he once was, but then again, he just may get there. Nobody's counting him out at this point. He says he's 90-95 percent recovered and is now focused on trying to attain his prior level of explosiveness and endurance.

After more than two years of rehabilitation (can you imagine?), he surprisingly appeared back in the league late last season. Miami cut him after a few games, and he ended up in the Tulsa D-League. Thunder GM Sam Presti, with that keen eye of his, shrewdly signed Livingston to a multi-year undisclosed sum contract. Only 23 years old, 6'7" guard (point, shooting, even small forward sometimes) Livingston has teamed up well with point guard Russell Westbrook in the backcourt in the few games they've had together, a union that will hopefully be further explored next season.

The Thunder is the one team playing in both the Orlando and Las Vegas summer leagues. Since Livingston is seeing action in both leagues this summer, HOOPSWORLD asked him Thursday if he noted any difference between the two.

"This one's been a little bit more glitz and glamour with the lights, a lot more audience, it's open to the public," he explained about Las Vegas. "This one is more marketable, so obviously a lot more people are coming out and there's more people you got to play against…more GMs, more coaches, more scouts, so it's good though. It's a wider field rather than the one in Orlando."

In Oklahoma City's first VSL game Sunday, Memphis ran away with the win 86-57. Livingston played 22 minutes, without meaningful contribution from anyone really…let's just chalk it up to jet-lag from the Orlando trip. On Tuesday, they lost to the Lakers 74-68, but it was close throughout. In 33 minutes of play, he got eight points and four assists, and his three steals were nice. On Thursday, Oklahoma City lost again after leading most of the game, this time to the Spurs 85-76. Livingston played guard for 31 minutes scoring six points, with four boards and four assists.


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View Susan Bible Archive The Thunder was the dominant team in five consecutive games in Orlando, and Livingston's stats were much better there than at the VSL games thus far. This could be attributed to Westbrook's presence in Orlando (he had to skip most of the VSL). Livingston played in every other game in that series, in a nod to his continuing rehab status. It's a good sign that he has shed the bulky knee brace as seen in games last season for a soft sleeve.

Livingston is not out to prove anything by playing in these summer leagues. "For me, it's all personal," he said candidly. "There's nothing really that I'm proving to anybody. Obviously I feel like I'm moving better, a little but stronger. This is an opportunity for me to improve, not only my game but my physical condition with my knee. It's a positive opportunity for me, so I'm trying to take advantage of it."

At the VSL, we've seen Chris Paul and Rudy Gay roaming around, and Kevin Durant was spied sitting on the Thunder bench in Thursday's game. When superstars like these show up, Livingston said, it shows a guy's character. "Those are all good guys, those are guys that come out and support the team," he remarked. "Obviously Kevin is a franchise player, and to come out and support the team…shows how interested he is in the development. I think we're in one of the biggest developmental stages out of any team, just with the whole expansion and everything."

Kevin Durant told HOOPSWORLD that it's realistic to expect that the Thunder could be a low-playoff seed next year. Livingston agrees. "It's possible. I really feel like it's possible," he said, with serious tone in his voice. "We got some young dynamic guys and I think it's really about the chemistry and bringing it together. Anytime you got a team, say like the Spurs for instance, Boston, you know, guys that have been together, you start to develop chemistry and I think that's what we're building here."

Shaun Livingston is yet another high-character, intelligent member of the rising Oklahoma City Thunder. He has returned, focused and clearly matured, eager to help this team have a successful season.

nothing against Donnie but I am a hi-yuge Sam Presti fan