Shaun Livingston is the pink elephant in the room.
However, most people just keep overlooking him. I won’t overlook him, and you shouldn’t either. Can Livingston have a similar impact as Jarrett Jack?
Livingston is a 6’7″ guard who can play both the one and two positions. He led his high school to two AA titles, and was later named Co-MVP in the McDonald’s High School All-American game. He opted to forgo college, and went straight to the 2004 NBA Draft.
He was selected in the first round, fourth overall in 2004. Dwight Howard, Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon, went ahead of Livingston. Teammate Andre Iguodala went ninth.
After his knee injury in 2007, his resume reads as a journeyman on his way put, directly from his Wiki:
"“On June 16, 2008, doctors allowed Livingston to resume basketball activities; during the 2008 offseason, he tried to find a guaranteed contract to finalize his comeback. TheMinnesota Timberwolves and Portland Trail Blazers were interested in his services, but he eventually signed a reported two-year deal with the Miami Heat on October 3, 2008. In 4 games with the Heat, he averaged 2.3 points in 10.3 minutes.On January 7, 2009, he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies along with cash considerations for a conditional 2012 second-round pick. He was waived later that same day.On March 7, 2009, Livingston signed with the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA D-League, owned by the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA. After three weeks with the 66ers, Livingston signed a multi-year deal with the Thunder on March 31, 2009. On December 22, 2009, Livingston was waived by the Thunder.On February 26, 2010, he signed the first of two 10-day contracts with the Washington Wizards. He was then signed by the Wizards for the remainder of the season. On July 20, 2010, Livingston signed a two-year contract worth $7 million with the Charlotte Bobcats.On June 23, 2011, he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a three-way deal among the Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Bobcats.On June 26, 2012, Livingston was traded to the Houston Rockets along with teammates Jon Leuer and Jon Brockman. Before the beginning of the season, however, they were all waived.On November 15, 2012, Livingston signed with the Washington Wizards. He was waived by the Wizards on December 23, 2012.[28]On December 25, 2012, the Cleveland Cavaliers claimed Livingston off waivers after releasing Donald Sloan. Livingston made his debut for the Cavaliers on January 2, 2013. Playing 13 minutes, he got two rebounds along with one assist and two points from free throws.”"
Just from looking at the above moves and travels of Livingston, it’s astonishing that he’s lasted this long. When Brook Lopez got hurt last season, Livingston was put in the starting lineup alongside Deron Williams and Joe Johnson in Brooklyn.
Livingston earned his position by playing hard and staying focused. The 6’7” guard presented problems for smaller guards across the league on offense and defense with those long arms, and quick legs.
Can Livingston have a similar impact as Jarrett Jack when he was with the Warriors?
Jarrett Jack
GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG PPG
Career 691 284 27.9 .443 .356 .851 2.8 4.3 .8 10.9
Career 466 176 23.1 .466 .204 .801 2.7 3.4 0.8 7.0
I can’t sugar coat it, but the numbers don’t lie. Jack is the better player. However, one could say that Livingston is just now coming into form and can only get better.
Livingston needs to get his three point percentage up, way up. Maybe Kerr’s system will have Livingston posting up smaller guards; at this point no one knows.
One thing is for sure, we will find out this coming season.