Thunder take a shot on Shaun

By John McMullen

Philadelphia, PA (The Phanatic Magazine) - Shaun Livingston was once well on his way to becoming one of the NBA's most explosive players.

The lanky point guard spurned a scholarship from Duke in order to enter the 2004 NBA Draft, and was the fourth overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers straight out of Peoria, Ill. Central High School.

Livingston possessed an Allen Iverson or Derrick Rose-like first step that often left defenders in the rear view mirror while he raced to the backboard for an uncontested two. Because of his size, (6-foot-7) and playmaking ability, some even compared the prodigy to Magic Johnson.

The praise was probably a little lofty but you get the point -- Livingston could play.

In his first two NBA seasons, Livingston struggled with injuries and averaged 6.3 points per game but, by his third season, he was turning into a difference maker.

Livingston was averaging a career high 9.3 points per game and contributing heavily to a rare Clippers playoff run when it all came crashing down on a simple layup attempt on Feb. 26, 2007.

Livingston's left knee exploded without contact from another player. The injury was so gruesome it became a hit with the more macabre fans and still piles up the hits on YouTube today. It was so severe that ESPNEWS warned viewers of the graphic nature of the video clip before airing it.

Shaun Livingston has seen little action since his days with the Clippers.

Livingston, who also missed eight weeks after blowing out his right knee in his rookie season, tore all three ligaments in his left knee and dislocated the kneecap. At the age of 21, he was handed a new challenge that had nothing to do with the NBA or the playoffs.

Livingston would need to learn to walk again.

Livingston has confirmed he thought about quitting the game but rehabbed through all of last season before the Miami Heat gave him a chance during training camp this year. He made Miami's regular-season roster but played just 41 minutes in four games before the Heat dumped his salary in a January trade with Memphis, which subsequently waived him.

The post-injury taste of the NBA left Livingston wanting more, and he signed on with the Tulsa 66ers of the Developmental League earlier this month, hoping to get noticed.

"I've just been ready for the opportunity to play," Livingston told the Tulsa World after signing with the 66ers. "I want to play a couple of games and see where the health of my knee is. I want to be able to have some teams look at me and see where I am. I hope to finish out the year on an NBA roster."

Last Saturday, for the first time since the injury, Livingston used that formerly famous first step to leave his defender, raise up and dunk the basketball.

Coincidence or not, the Oklahoma City Thunder came calling three days later and signed the now 23-year-old to a multi-year deal.

Livingston was playing a decent floor game in Tulsa, averaging 9.5 points, 6.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 11 games with the 66ers, ranking seventh in the D-League in assists, but it was the dunk that got him noticed in Oklahoma City, a team in desperate need of a presence at the point.

The 20-53 Thunder have afterthoughts like Kyle Weaver, Chucky Atkins and Earl Watson on hand, names that aren't exactly going to conjure up images of Bob Cousy.

Recently, the team moved star rookie Russell Westbrook to the point and inserted the defensive-minded Thabo Sefolosha at two guard, a nice stop-gap move. But, Westbrook is a natural two who can use his athletic ability to flourish off the ball.

The odds are heavily-stacked against Livingston ever piloting Scott Brooks' team, but it's worth a roll of the dice.