Free agent point guard Shaun Livingston has announced his retirement from the NBA on Friday with a heartfelt post on his Instagram account. Livingston spent the last five years of his career with the Golden State Warriors, earning three championship rings in the process.
He was released at the end of the season to make room for other signings, as Golden State underwent a wave of changes stemming from Kevin Durant's departure in free agency. Livingston reportedly still explore avenues to keep playing while pondering retirement.
The 15-year NBA veteran expressed his gratefulness after overcoming a tragic injury that saw his leg snap laterally after awkwardly missing a layup during a breakout season with the LA Clippers.
Livingston tore his ACL, his PCL, the lateral meniscus, suffered a third grade MCL sprain, and dislocated his patella and his tibia — hurting almost every part of his leg in that incident. His road back to the league was a painstaking one, forced him to miss the entire 2007-08 season as he learned to walk once again. Livingston would go on to play for only 22 games in his next three seasons — four with the Miami Heat in 2008-09 and 18 with the Oklahoma City Thunder through the next two seasons.
The 34-year-old looked back at those dark times, times that he now cherishes as a sign of triumph through perseverance:
“The injury” gave me a chance to find and prove to myself (and the world) that I wouldn’t be defined by my circumstances. With my time in the League what I will be most proud of is the fact that my character, values and faith were tested, and I persevered.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2W0HYllm6O/?igshid=ktwrw0979owt
Livingston reinvented himself as a quality backup guard, first showing it with the Brooklyn Nets in 54 starts through 76 games, then bringing his mettle to the Warriors, who embraced his talent and unique skill set for a long championship run that spanned for half a decade.
Follow Us
Subscribe