Shaun Patrick Livingston (born September 11, 1985) is an American professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

executive and former player. He entered the league directly out of high school and was selected fourth by the

Los Angeles Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. The ...

in the 2004 NBA draft. During his 15-year career, Livingston played 959 games for nine teams and won three NBA championships as a member of the

Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco. The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Founded in 1946 i ...

—in

2015 2015 was designated by the United Nations as: * International Year of Light * International Year of Soil __TOC__ Events January * January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...

2017 2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly. Events January * January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...

, and

2018 Events January * January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency. * January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...

. In February 2007, Livingston suffered a debilitating knee injury that damaged almost every part of his left knee. It took Livingston about a year and a half to return. Between 2008 and 2010, he played only 22 league games. Livingston also played for the

Miami Heat The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern C ...

Oklahoma City Thunder The Oklahoma City Thunder are an American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City. The Thunder compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division (NBA), Northwest Division of the Western Confer ...

Washington Wizards The Washington Wizards are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The Wizards compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays i ...

, Charlotte Bobcats,

Milwaukee Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...

Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Divis ...

, and the

Brooklyn Nets The Brooklyn Nets are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Brooklyn. The Nets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), ...

. He played his last five seasons in the league with the

Warriors A warrior is a guardian specializing in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based warrior culture society that recognizes a separate warrior aristocracy, class, or caste. History Warriors seem to have been p ...

and retired from professional basketball in September 2019.

Early years

Livingston was born in Peoria,

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

. He led Concordia Lutheran Grade School to LSA state titles in 1999 and 2000. Livingston played competitive basketball in high school at Richwoods High School for two years and then transferred to Peoria Central High School, where he led his team to back-to-back Class AA state titles in 2003 and 2004. In 2004, Livingston was named Illinois Mr. Basketball and played in the

McDonald's All-American Game The McDonald's All-American Game is an American all-star basketball game played each year for boys' and girls' high school basketball graduates. Consisting of the top players, each team plays a single exhibition game after the conclusion of the hi ...

. In 2007, he was voted one of the 100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament for his superior performance in the tournament. Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Livingston was listed as the No. 1 point guard and the No. 2 player in the nation in 2004. He committed to play college hoops at

Duke Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of Royal family, royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and above sovereign princes. As royalty or nobi ...

, but opted instead to make the jump to the NBA straight out of high school.

Professional career

Los Angeles Clippers (2004–2008)

Livingston committed to

, but opted to skip college and enter the 2004 NBA draft, where he was selected fourth by the Los Angeles Clippers. Livingston was and was considered to be tall by point guard standards and due to the addition of

Sam Cassell Samuel James Cassell Sr. (born November 18, 1969) is an American professional basketball coach and former point guard who serves as an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Drafted 24th overall in th ...

to the Clippers' roster, gained playing time as a

shooting guard The shooting guard (SG), also known as the two, two guard or off guard,Shooting guards are 6'3"–6'7"BBC Sports academy URL last accessed 2006-09-09. is one of the five traditional basketball positions, positions in a regulation basketball game ...

instead. Livingston recorded a career-high 14 assists on February 23, 2007, against the

. In his first two NBA seasons, Livingston played 91 games and averaged 6.3 points per game. In his third season, Livingston averaged a career-high 9.3 points per game, being one of the few Clippers to improve from the 2005–06 season.

Knee injury

In a game against the Charlotte Bobcats on February 26, 2007, Livingston suffered a debilitating knee injury, dislocating his left kneecap after landing awkwardly following a missed

layup A layup in basketball is a two-point shot attempt made by leaping from below, "laying" the ball up near the basket, and using one hand to bounce it off the backboard and into the basket. The motion and one-handed reach distinguish it from a Jump ...

, resulting in the left leg snapping laterally. Livingston injured almost every part of his knee, tearing the

anterior cruciate ligament The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of a pair of cruciate ligaments (the other being the posterior cruciate ligament) in the human knee. The two ligaments are called "cruciform" ligaments, as they are arranged in a crossed formation. In ...

(ACL), the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), and the lateral meniscus, badly spraining his

medial collateral ligament The medial collateral ligament (MCL), also called the superficial medial collateral ligament (sMCL) or tibial collateral ligament (TCL), is one of the major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial (inner) side of the knee joint and occurs in ...

(MCL), and dislocating his patella and his tibio-fibular joint. Livingston was told by a medical professional at the hospital that there was a chance that his leg would have to be amputated. Livingston required months of rehabilitation to be able to walk again. He was also riddled by injuries during the first three years of his professional career and missed 101 of 246 regular season games.

Miami Heat (2008–2009)

Livingston's contract with the Clippers expired after the 2007–08 season, and the Clippers did not make him a $5.8 million qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent. 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. The

Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves (often referred to as the Wolves or T-wolves) are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Divisio ...

and

Portland Trail Blazers The Portland Trail Blazers (colloquially known as the Blazers) are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division (N ...

were interested, but it was reported Livingston eventually signed a two-year deal with the

on October 3, 2008. In four games with the Heat, he averaged 2.3 points and 10.3 minutes.

Tulsa 66ers (2009)

On January 7, 2009, Livingston was traded to the

Memphis Grizzlies The Memphis Grizzlies (referred to locally as the Grizz) are an American professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Grizzlies compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division of the ...

along with cash considerations for a conditional 2012 second-round pick. He was then waived later that same day. On March 7, 2009, Livingston signed with the Tulsa 66ers, the

NBA development league The NBA G League, or simply the G League, is a professional basketball league in North America that serves as the developmental league of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The league comprises 31 teams; as of the 2024–25 season, ...

team owned by the

Oklahoma City Thunder (2009)

After three weeks with the 66ers, Livingston signed a multi-year deal with the Thunder on March 31, 2009. On December 22, he was waived by the Thunder.

Washington Wizards (2010)

On February 26, 2010, Livingston signed the first of his two 10-day contracts with the

. Eventually, Livingston was then signed for the rest of the season.

Charlotte Bobcats (2010–2011)

On July 20, 2010, Livingston signed a two-year contract worth $7 million with the Charlotte Bobcats.

Milwaukee Bucks (2011–2012)

On June 23, 2011, Livingston was traded to the

as part of a three-way deal that included the

Sacramento Kings The Sacramento Kings are an American professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California. The Kings compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Confere ...

and Charlotte Bobcats.

Return to Washington (2012)

On June 26, 2012, Livingston was traded to the

Houston Rockets The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston. The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA) ...

for Samuel Dalembert along with teammates Jon Leuer and Jon Brockman. However, they were all waived before the beginning of the season. On November 15, Livingston re-signed with the

. He was waived on December 23.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2012–2013)

On December 25, 2012, the

claimed Livingston off waivers after releasing Donald Sloan. Livingston made his debut for the Cavaliers on January 2, 2013, recording two points, two rebounds, and one assist in 13 minutes of action off the bench.

Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014)

On July 11, 2013, Livingston signed with the

. His season-high of 23 points came in a 108–98 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on November 18. Initially billed as a backup, Livingston performed well enough to join

Deron Williams Deron Michael Williams ( ; born June 26, 1984) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball, Illinois Fighting Illini before being drafted third overall in ...

in the starting lineup following a season-ending injury to Brook Lopez. With Livingston on the floor, the Nets proved to be 8.5 points per 100 possessions better defensively, and he earned the third-most minutes on the team. On March 17, 2014, Livingston set a career-high for both minutes played and points scored in a season. At the end of the season, he had played in a career-high 76 games (beating a previous high of 61 games) and averaged 8.3 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.

Golden State Warriors (2014–2019)

On July 11, 2014, Livingston signed with the

for a reported three-year, $16 million contract. On August 15, he was ruled out for six to eight weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on the big toe of his right foot. Livingston recovered in time to make his Warriors debut in the season opener and served as a key player off the bench for the Warriors in their run to the 2015 NBA Championship while becoming an integral member of the Warriors dynasty. In 2015–16, Livingston helped the Warriors win an NBA record 73 games to eclipse the 72 wins set by the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls. During Game 4 of the 2016 Western Conference semi-finals, Livingston was ejected late in the second quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers. He had moved into the starting lineup to accommodate for the injured

Stephen Curry Wardell Stephen Curry II ( ; born March 14, 1988) is an American professional basketball player and point guard for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Chef Curry", he is widely regarded as the ...

. In the Western Conference Finals, the Warriors overcame a 3–1 deficit to defeat the

in seven games and advance to the 2016 NBA Finals. In Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the

, Livingston scored a playoff career-high 20 points, leading the Warriors to a 104–89 victory. Despite the Warriors going up 3–1 in the series following a Game 4 victory, they went on to lose the series in seven games. In 2016–17, Livingston helped the Warriors win the NBA Championship after defeating the Cavaliers 4–1 in the 2017 NBA Finals. The Warriors finished the playoffs with a 16–1 record, the best postseason winning percentage in NBA history. On July 25, 2017, Livingston re-signed with the Warriors on a three-year, $24 million contract. On December 4, he was suspended for one game without pay for an altercation with game official Courtney Kirkland during a game against the

a day earlier. Livingston helped the Warriors win back-to-back titles in

after defeating the Cavaliers in a four-game sweep in the Finals. In 2019, Livingston played in his fifth straight

NBA Finals The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern and Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league ...

, where the Warriors lost to the

Toronto Raptors The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), E ...

in six games. His final NBA game was Game 6 of this final series (played on June 13, 2019, with the Warriors losing 114–110) where he recorded six points and a steal in 16 minutes of playing time. On July 10, 2019, Livingston was waived by the Warriors. He went unsigned during free agency.

Retirement

On September 13, 2019, Livingston announced his retirement from the NBA. In a post, Livingston stated: "After 15 years in the NBA, I’m excited, sad, fortunate and grateful all in one breath. Hard to put into a caption all of the emotions it takes to try and accomplish your dreams."

Post-playing career

On September 15, 2020, the

announced that they had named Livingston as director of players affairs and engagement. He won his fourth

NBA championship The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern and Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league ...

after the Warriors defeated the

Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), ...

in six games in the

2022 NBA Finals The 2022 NBA Finals was the NBA Finals, championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 2021–22 NBA season, 2021–22 season and conclusion of the 2022 NBA playoffs, season's playoffs. In this best-of-seven playoff series, ...

. Livingston left the role on June 20, 2023, citing a desire to spend more time with his family outside of the Bay Area.

Personal life

Livingston is a

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

. In April 2016, he donated $1 million to his former grade school, Concordia Lutheran School, in Peoria, Illinois. Also

NBA career statistics

Regular season

, - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", L.A. Clippers , 30 , , 15 , , 27.1 , , .414 , , .000 , , .746 , , 3.0 , , 5.0 , , 1.1 , , .4 , , 7.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", L.A. Clippers , 61 , , 14 , , 25.0 , , .427 , , .125 , , .688 , , 3.0 , , 4.5 , , .8 , , .5 , , 5.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", L.A. Clippers , 54 , , 31 , , 29.8 , , .463 , , .313 , , .707 , , 3.4 , , 5.1 , , 1.1 , , .5 , , 9.3 , - , style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2, , style="text-align:left;",

Miami Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

, 4 , , 0 , , 10.3 , , .375 , , .000 , , .750 , , .5 , , 1.0 , , .5 , , .0 , , 2.3 , - , style="text-align:left;",

Oklahoma City Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Oklahoma, most populous city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat ...

, 8 , , 1 , , 23.8 , , .538 , , .000 , , 1.000 , , 3.3 , , 2.0 , , .6 , , .3 , , 7.8 , - , style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2, , style="text-align:left;",

, 10 , , 0 , , 13.0 , , .313 , , .000 , , .000 , , 2.0 , , 1.3 , , .5 , , .2 , , 1.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", Washington , 26 , , 18 , , 25.6 , , .535 , , .000 , , .875 , , 2.2 , , 4.5 , , .5 , , .3 , , 9.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 73 , , 0 , , 17.3 , , .466 , , .250 , , .864 , , 2.0 , , 2.2 , , .6 , , .4 , , 6.6 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

, 58 , , 27 , , 18.8 , , .469 , , .667 , , .785 , , 2.1 , , 2.1 , , .5 , , .3 , , 5.5 , - , style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2, , style="text-align:left;", Washington , 17 , , 4 , , 18.8 , , .364 , , .000 , , 1.000 , , 2.2 , , 2.2 , , .6 , , .1 , , 3.7 , - , style="text-align:left;",

Cleveland Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–U.S. maritime border and approximately west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania st ...

, 49 , , 12 , , 23.2 , , .507 , , .000 , , .843 , , 2.5 , , 3.6 , , .8 , , .6 , , 7.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

, 76 , , 54 , , 26.0 , , .483 , , .167 , , .827 , , 3.2 , , 3.2 , , 1.2 , , .4 , , 8.3 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", † , style="text-align:left;", Golden State , 78 , , 2 , , 18.8 , , .500 , , .000 , , .714 , , 2.2 , , 3.3 , , .6 , , .3 , , 5.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Golden State , 78 , , 3 , , 19.5 , , .536 , , .167 , , .860 , , 2.2 , , 3.0 , , .7 , , .3 , , 6.3 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", † , style="text-align:left;", Golden State , 76 , , 3 , , 17.7 , , .547 , , .333 , , .700 , , 2.0 , , 1.8 , , .5 , , .3 , , 5.1 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", † , style="text-align:left;", Golden State , 71 , , 7 , , 15.9 , , .501 , , .000 , , .820 , , 1.8 , , 2.0 , , .5 , , .3 , , 5.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Golden State , 64 , , 0 , , 15.1 , , .519 , , .000 , , .784 , , 1.8 , , 1.8 , , .5 , , .4 , , 4.0 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan=2, Career , 833 , , 191 , , 20.6 , , .486 , , .178 , , .794 , , 2.4 , , 3.0 , , .7 , , .4 , , 6.3

Playoffs

, - , style="text-align:left;",

2006 2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. Events January * January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute. * January 12 – A stampede during t ...

, style="text-align:left;", L.A. Clippers , 12 , , 0 , , 27.7 , , .474 , , 1.000 , , .810 , , 4.7 , , 4.8 , , .6 , , .5 , , 7.5 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2014 The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 12 , , 10 , , 27.1 , , .512 , , 1.000 , , .730 , , 3.5 , , 3.3 , , .4 , , .4 , , 9.7 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;",

† , style="text-align:left;", Golden State , 21 , , 0 , , 17.9 , , .532 , , .000 , , .840 , , 2.4 , , 1.8 , , .4 , , .2 , , 5.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...

, style="text-align:left;", Golden State , 24 , , 7 , , 21.4 , , .488 , , .000 , , .865 , , 3.2 , , 3.3 , , .5 , , .2 , , 8.2 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;",

† , style="text-align:left;", Golden State , 14 , , 0 , , 15.7 , , .576 , , .000 , , .714 , , 2.1 , , 1.4 , , .4 , , .1 , , 5.2 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;",

† , style="text-align:left;", Golden State , 21 , , 0 , , 17.2 , , .536 , , .000 , , .880 , , 2.2 , , 1.5 , , .3 , , .0 , , 6.7 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2019 This was the year in which the first known human case of COVID-19 was documented, preceding COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic which was declared by the World Health Organization the following year. Up to that point, 2019 had been described as ...

, style="text-align:left;", Golden State , 22 , , 2 , , 14.6 , , .453 , , .000 , , .840 , , 1.4 , , 1.4 , , .5 , , .2 , , 4.0 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan=2, Career , 126 , , 19 , , 19.4 , , .507 , , .286 , , .819 , , 2.6 , , 2.4 , , .4 , , .2 , , 6.4

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Livingston, Shaun 1985 births Living people American Lutherans American men's basketball players Basketball players from Peoria, Illinois Brooklyn Nets players Charlotte Bobcats players Cleveland Cavaliers players Golden State Warriors players Los Angeles Clippers draft picks Los Angeles Clippers players McDonald's High School All-Americans Miami Heat players Milwaukee Bucks players NBA high school draftees Oklahoma City Thunder players Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball) Point guards Shooting guards Tulsa 66ers players Washington Wizards players