Can Shaun Livingston Return?
July 10th, 2008 at 10:59 amBy Chris
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After suffering one of the more horrendous-looking knee injuries in the history of the NBA, there were questions about whether or not the Clippers lead guard would be able to play again. And if you’ve ever seen the injury (no links or video — if you want to see it, go to YouTube), that thinking is understandable. However, when he began doing basketball-related activities again, there was a new-found level of confidence, even though the Clippers announced they wouldn’t offer him an extension.
Now Livingston is free to find a new team because the Clippers have renounced their rights to the unrestricted free agent this afternoon. This move can be seen as a double-edged sword.
On one hand, it allows Livingston to find a new team and to get a fresh start. I’m not sure if I’d be comfortable playing 41 games on a court that almost decapitated my knee. However, it also means he’s going to have to prove to his potential suitors he’s capable of playing at the level he once did; a level that was good enough to allow him to come to the NBA directly out of high school and be drafted in the lottery.
The unfortunate thing is, if he can’t, his lasting memory of the NBA will be that fateful night in February and I don’t think that would be the way he’d want to be remembered — but he may not have a choice in the matter.
On the bright side, the reports of his resumed basketball activity indicate he was actively dunking the ball, but it’s important to remember Livingston is long, lean 6-7 and should be able to dunk quite easily, even if he’s only jumping off his right leg. As of now, there’s no word on who the recuperating point guard will try out for, although the name “Golden State Warriors” has been tossed around.
And if that happens, it’ll mean Golden State and the Clips just swapped point guards. Who would be the winner in such a case? The Clip Joint for their Boom Dizzle attack or the Warriors for finding a young player with loads of ability and a huge health question mark over his head?
Aren’t offseasons fun?
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