When it comes to the man who is the best at step-back jumpers in the NBA, the first thing that comes to mind for many fans should be either Michael Jordan, the god of basketball, or Kobe Bryant, who is most like him. After all, the player who created the technique of the step-back jumper and carried it forward was Michael Jordan, and almost everyone now regards the step-back jumper as Jordan's most iconic move. Like James Harden's double-step back, such moves have become a hallmark that identifies the player.
However, for Warriors fans, the step-back jumper does not belong only to that man, just as Mavericks fans will subdivide the step-back jumper into ordinary step-back jumpers and Golden Rooster independence, it is also an insoluble weapon for Warriors fans to build the dynasty, Sean Livingston.
Back then, it was Livingston's inexplicable step-back jumpers that the Warriors were able to keep up with the opposite side when they came off the bench. Today, let's take a look back at the hero of the Warrior dynasty - Shaun Livingston.
A super genius who became famous at a young age and entered the draft as a high school student
In the early days, Livingston didn't have the same unsolvable mid-range shot and gentle as Warriors fans are known for, and his main scoring methods were breakthroughs and dunks, and his personality, while not bad, can be said to be good.
Shaun Livingston was born in Illinois on September 11, 1985, and has lived in a child care facility since he was a child. However, his father was distressed about Sean Livingston's state in the nursery, so he asked for custody when he was a child, sent him to a good private school, and then introduced him to the game of basketball.
After coming into contact with basketball, Livingston Jr., who was originally a little withdrawn, seemed to have been reborn and gradually became the hottest high school star player in the United States, but I don't know if it was the nursery school when he was a child caused his psychological trauma, and his rebellious period was stronger than the average person. He broke with his father and returned to his hometown high school alone.
Life and personality issues aside, Livingston's talent is indeed very strong, not only became the Illinois Basketball Man in the 03-04 season, but also was selected to the 2004 McDonald's All-America All-America, and was selected by Prada magazine as the All-America First Team.
When he graduated from high school, the legendary coach K personally wrote to invite him to join Duke University. However, while still in the rebellious period, he no longer plans to continue to hone his skills, and chooses to skip college and go directly to the NBA draft.
In 2004, the Los Angeles Clippers selected Livingston with the fourth pick in the NBA Draft. Livingston's career got off to a rocky start, and with his excellent passing ability and playmaking talent, he quickly established himself with the Clippers, as if everything was going well.
Without the accumulation of a solid foundation, it will end up paying a terrible price
In the first two seasons of the NBA, Livingston, who averaged 26 points per game, could get 7.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 5.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists respectively.
However, the aftermath of not playing in the collegiate league soon became apparent, and Livingston had little experience fighting injuries. On February 26, 2007, Livingston suffered a serious knee injury against the Charlotte Bobcats, when he suffered damage to the anterior cruciate ligament, lateral collateral ligament, posterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee, which can be called one of the most horrific injuries in NBA history. Such an injury almost ended his career. Sure enough, not only did the injury keep Livingston out for more than a year, but few teams were willing to use him when he returned.
Whether it was the Clippers who selected him, the Heat, the Thunder and other teams, they basically cut him after he played three or four games. In this way, Livingston can only sign short-term contracts with various teams while looking for ways to stay in the NBA.
Phoenix Nirvana has finally ushered in a rebirth in the Warriors
Having lost all glory and pride, he has found the "weapon of God" - the step-back jumper, and he intends to continue to refine his only offensive tactics of the past that he can still look at in order to stay in the NBA.
After gradually honing his step-back jumper skills, after a few years and many teams, Livingston finally signed a one-year contract with the Nets on July 12, 2013, and was able to stay with the team for a long time and polish his step-back jumper skills more finely.
That year, Livingston averaged 8.3 points, 3.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 26 minutes per game, not far from the first two years of his rookie season. It's also worth mentioning that he was stronger than the regular season during his 12 playoff games, averaging 9.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
In July 2014, the Warriors took a fancy to his growing fighting spirit and consistent scoring skills, and signed him to a three-year, $16 million contract. Since then, Shaun Livingston's career with the Warriors has begun. In the 14-15 season, Shaun Livingston played an average of 18 minutes per game, with 6 points, 3.3 assists and 2.4 rebounds. In the 15-16 season, after contributing 6.3 points, 3 assists and 2.1 rebounds in the regular season, Livingston improved his form in the playoffs, averaging 8.2 points, 3.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game to help the team reach the Finals as a substitute.
In the 16-17 season, due to the arrival of scoring machine Kevin Durant, Livingston's scoring seemed to be less important, averaging only 5.1 points and 2 rebounds per game, but the Warriors gave him a three-year 24 million contract to show his attitude, and Livingston was a necessary contributor to the championship.
As a result, Livingston continued to shine with the Warriors, biting the game at key moments with unsolvable step-back jumpers. At the end of his contract, Livingston, who was no longer able to play, announced his retirement and remained with the Warriors as the team's executive director to help the team's new players hone their offensive skills. Finally, on June 17, 2022, Shaun Livingston once again won the NBA championship with the Warriors as an executive director, and his career came to a successful end.