Golden State Warriors: An ode to the beloved Shaun Livingston

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 17: Shaun Livingston #34 of the Golden State Warriors holds the NBA trophy on the plane as the team travels home from Cleveland after winning the 2015 NBA Finals on June 17, 2015 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Richard Hartog/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) /

What a journey for S Dot

The story of Shaun has been well documented by this point. Coming into the league from high school as a top-five draft pick in 2004, one of the most gruesome injuries one can witness derailed his career in 2007 at the age of just 21.

It is often easy to forget, especially watching the last half a decade, that there was a very real possibility that Livingston could have lost his leg. Tearing about every ligament in the knee in one catastrophic landing, playing in the NBA was never a guarantee, let alone winning three rings.

Livingston’s comeback saw him sign with ten different NBA teams (and only playing for eight of these teams) before his stint in Golden State, often being waived very quickly after his arrival. Ten-day contracts and appearances in the then D-League were all too familiar.

A breakthrough season in Brooklyn (ironic considering that it was a sign-and-trade with the Nets that has ultimately forced him out of the door) caught the attention of the Warriors. He demonstrated that he was able to consistently perform at the point, averaging the most minutes in a season since his rookie year.

They took a shot at him.

And the rest, as they say, is history…

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