LET'S LISTEN IN AS ED VISITS
WITH SHAUN LIVINGSTON, POINT
GUARD FOR THE NBA BROOKLYN NETS.
>>THE STORY, SHAUN LIVINGSTON
STORY STARTS WITH A VERY, VERY
YOUNG AGE, CARRYING BOOKS AND
YOU LEARNED TO WALK REAL EARLY
IN YOUR LIFE.
WHAT WAS THAT, SHAUN, VERY
YOUNG?
>>VERY YOUNG, PROBABLY EIGHT,
NINE MONTHS.
>>AND YOU WERE WALKING, AND
FRANK, YOUR GRANDFATHER--
>>YES.
>>THE MARINE STORY.
WHAT IS THE MARINE STORY?
>> HE SERVED IN THE WAR, AND YOU
KNOW, HE WAS A GUY THAT WAS
ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, GOT YOUR BED
MADE UP, DID YOU PUT YOUR SHOES
BACK WHERE YOU FOUND THEM.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN HE WAS ON ME
ABOUT EVERYDAY DUTIES, YOUR
CHORES, DISCIPLINE.
I MEAN HE WAS VERY HIGH ON THAT,
TRAINING ME FROM A KID TO A
YOUNG MAN TO A MAN.
SO THAT WAS WHERE HIS STORY
REALLY CAME IN, AND HE
INFLUENCED MY LIFE.
>>NO EXCUSES, DO YOU RECALL THE
STORY, HIS SUGGESTION THERE IS
NO EXCUSES?
>>ABSOLUTELY.
>>PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING.
>>ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, HE USED TO
COME IN-- I MEAN HE ASKED WHY I
WOULDN'T HAVE MY HOMEWORK DONE,
BEFORE I GAVE AN ANSWER, RIGHT
AWAY "NO EXCUSES."
(LAUGHING) THINK ABOUT IT BACK
THEN, IT GOT ON YOUR NERVES AND
WAS ANNOYING AS A KID.
I WAS, MAN, I HAVE ALL THIS
STUFF TO DO, AND YOU ARE
THINKING OF THE ALTERNATIVES.
ONCE YOU GET OLDER, ONLY THING
THAT MATTERS IS THE RESULTS.
IT IS LIKE DID YOU GET IT DONE
OR DID YOU NOT GET IT DONE.
AGAIN, THAT COMES FROM, YOU
KNOW, HIS BACKGROUND SERVING,
THE END RESULTS BECAUSE THEY HAD
LITTLE MARGIN FOR ERROR.
>>CONCORDIA, YOU GUYS DID REAL
WELL.
TWO TITLES, THEN RICHWOODS, THEN
CENTRAL, TWO TITLES,
McDONALD'S AND YOU WERE CO MVP
AT McDONALD'S HIGH SCHOOL.
YOU LOOKED AT, WHAT, DUKE,
ILLINOIS?
>>ARIZONA AND NORTH CAROLINA.
>>AND YOU DECIDED TENTATIVELY
DUKE.
AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED?
>> AND THEN IT WAS JUST A ROLLER
COASTER, MAN.
IT WAS ALL DOWN-- OR ALL UPHILL
I WOULD SAY.
I DECIDED TO GO TO DUKE, SERVED
OUT MY SENIOR YEAR.
I COMMITTED AT THE BEGINNING OF
MY SENIOR YEAR, AND FROM THERE,
WE WON A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
I PLAYED IN TWO ALL AMERICAN
GAMES.
THAT WHOLE YEAR I WAS BEING
SCOUTED FROM PRO SCOUTS.
THERE WAS CHRIS MULLINS FROM
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS, JOHN
PAXTON FROM THE BULLS.
THESE GUYS ARE COMING TO MY HIGH
SCHOOL GAMES WHICH WAS CREATING
A LOT OF BUZZ IN A CITY LIKE
PEORIA, ILLINOIS, WHICH IS MORE
OF BIG TOWN, SMALL CITY.
SO FROM THERE, I JUST DECIDED TO
GO-- I DECIDED TO JUMP FROM
COLLEGE TO NBA BECAUSE I HAD A
POSSIBILITY OF BEING A TOP FIVE
DRAFT PICK.
>>AND YOU WERE?
>>FOUR.
>>ROUND NUMBER FOUR.
>>THAT'S RIGHT.
>>WHAT WAS IT LIKE, THE
TRANSITION FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO
THE PROS?
>> IT WAS AMAZING.
>>WHAT WAS THE STORY.
TELL ME THE STORY.
>>IT WAS AMAZING.
I MEAN, AGAIN, EVERYTHING
HAPPENED SO FAST.
SO IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IF I COULD
GO BACK JUST THINKING ABOUT
BEING IN THE MOMENT BECAUSE I
WAS ENJOYING THE RIDE.
BUT ALSO, TOO, I WAS TRYING TO
PREPARE MYSELF FOR THE FUTURE.
I KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING, ONLY
THREE OTHER GUYS THAT DID IT
BEFORE ME, STARTED WITH KEVIN
GARNET, DARIUS MILES, AND EDDIE
CURRY.
ALL THESE GUYS JUMPED FROM HIGH
SCHOOL TO THE PROS.
BUT I WAS GOING TO BE THE FIRST
POINT GUARD EVER TO JUMP FROM
HIGH SCHOOL TO THE NBA, AND SO
THAT WHOLE EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW,
I WAS NERVOUS, BUT AT THE SAME
TIME, I KNEW I WAS MAKING THE
BEST DECISION FOR ME AND MY
FAMILY.
I ENDED UP GOING NUMBER FOUR TO
THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS,
STRAIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.
BEING IN THE BIG CITY OF NEW
YORK, HAVING MY FAMILY WITH ME,
REPRESENTING MY HOME TOWN OF
PEORIA, ILLINOIS, YOU KNOW, THAT
WAS THE GREATEST FEELING IN THE
WORLD.
>>BUT THEN WHAT HAPPENED?
>> WELL, FROM THERE, I SERVED
OUT MY ROOKIE YEAR. I STARTED
OFF KIND OF ON ROCKY TERMS, JUST
WITH INJURIES.
I WAS SO YOUNG, BEING IN THE
NBA.
I THINK MENTALLY I WAS READY.
PHYSICALLY, I COULD HAVE TOOK
SOME TIME TO DEVELOP MORE.
THAT'S WHAT COLLEGE WOULD HAVE
PREPARED ME MORE. BUT
SKILL-WISE, I THOUGHT I WAS
READY, BUT I HAD SOME INJURIES.
AND I GOT OFF TO NOT SO FAST
START.
AND THEN BY MY THIRD YEAR, I HAD
A BIG KNEE INJURY THAT KIND OF
REALLY SET MY CAREER BACK.
>> BIG INJURY.
VIDEO OF THE INJURY IS PREFACED,
IF YOU ARE AT ALL QUEASY, DON'T
LOOK AT THIS VIDEO.
IT WAS DEVASTATING.
>>YES.
>>THE SURGERY ALABAMA, TWO
PHYSICIANS, IF THAT HAD HAPPENED
TEN YEARS BEFORE THAT, SHAUN
WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT.
I UNDERSTAND, CORRECT ME, THAT
ONE OF THE PHYSICIANS IN FIRST
SEEING THE RESULTS SUGGESTED
THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE YOUR LEG
AMPUTATED.
>>EXACTLY.
>> SO IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A
WORSE INJURY, AND, YET, YOU NOW
ARE STARTING A THIRD OF THE TIME
WITH THE BROOKLYN NETS.
>>RIGHT.
>>HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT
TRANSITION.
>>I FEEL GREAT.
(LAUGHING) I FEEL GREAT, MAN.
IT IS A BLESSING.
I MEAN TO GO FROM WHERE I WAS TO
POSSIBLY HAVING A LEG AMPUTATED.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY
OF NEVER BEING ABLE TO WALK
RIGHT OR TO HOLD YOUR KIDS, TO
GO OUT AND DO THE SIMPLE THINGS
IN LIFE, NOT JUST BASKETBALL.
LET'S THROW BASKETBALL OUT THE
WINDOW.
WE ARE TALKING JUST ENJOYING THE
ESSENTIALS.
YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE WHERE I
COME FROM.
I UNDERSTAND THE WORK THAT WENT
INTO IT, AND SO NOW I THINK THE
PASSION THAT I PLAY WITH OR THE
APPRECIATION THAT I HAVE FOR THE
GAME HAS HEIGHTENED BECAUSE OF
MY EXPERIENCES.
>>HOW DID YOU DO IT?
HOW DID YOU REHAB?
WHAT WAS THE TYPICAL DAY IN
REHABBING.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT
IT, I UNDERSTAND.
I AM CURIOUS, DEVASTATION TO
STARTING IN ONE OF THE MOST
ELITE AREAS OF ATHLETICS.
>>YEAH.
>>FROM LYING ON FLOOR, ON THE
HARDWOOD FLOOR TO STARTING.
WHAT WAS THE REHAB PROCESS LIKE?
>> IT WAS GRUESOME BECAUSE FIRST
TWO WEEKS WAS THE WORSE. YOU
TALK ABOUT SLEEPING.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BEING ABLE
TO GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.
COULDN'T DO THAT. I SLEEP ON MY
SIDE, MY STOMACH.
I GOT STAPLES UP AND DOWN MY
KNEE.
GOT TO SLEEP ON MY BACK.
SLEEP WITH SIX OR SEVEN PILLOWS
BETWEEN MY LEGS OR UP UNDER MY
LEGS TO PROP MY KNEE UP. NOW I
AM CRANKY EVERY DAY I AM WAKING
UP, GOING TO REHAB SEVEN DAYS A
WEEK.
START OUT SIX DAYS, SEVEN DAYS A
WEEK EVERY DAY.
THEN ONCE YOU GET DOWN THERE, WE
ARE TALKING PROBABLY FROM THE
TIME I HAD SURGERY 20-- NOT
EVEN, MAYBE 20-- MAYBE 18
HOURS, 24 HOURS FROM THE TIME
THAT I HAD SURGERY, THEY OPENED
ME UP, WHEELING ME DOWN TO THE
REHAB, TO START MY REHAB.
BECAUSE THE KEY WAS MOBILITY TO
GET MY KNEE BACK MOVING.
ONCE YOU HAVE SURGERY, IF YOU
HAVE-- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD
SURGERY BEFORE, BUT SCAR TISSUE
SETS IN.
AND THAT'S THE HEALING PROCESS.
ONCE THE STAR TISSUE STARTS TO
SET IN, IT IS INITIALLY LIKE
STIFF.
USED TO PUT YOU IN A CAST FOR
WHATEVER, EIGHT WEEKS, TWO
MONTHS, THREE MONTHS.
ONCE YOU GET OUT OF THE CAST,
THEY START REHABBING YOU.
THEY LEARNED THAT WASN'T
WORKING.
ONCE YOU GET OUT THE CAST, YOU
CAN'T MOVE YOUR LEG.
IT IS INITIALLY STIFF.
IT IS LIKE STUCK.
SO THEY HAD ME SITTING DOWN
THERE IN THE REHAB CRANKING ON
MY LEG.
I MEAN I WAS PROBABLY SOME OF
THE WORST PAIN I HAVE EVER
EXPERIENCED.
PROBABLY EVEN MORE SO THAN MY
INJURY BECAUSE THAT PAIN WAS
NONSTOP FOR-- I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
PROBABLY TWO YEARS, A YEAR.
AND IT DWINDLED, IT WENT DOWN.
BUT INITIALLY IT STARTED OUT
VERY HIGH.
I HAVE A HIGH PAIN TOLERANCE,
BUT THE REHAB PROCESS GOING
THERE EVERY DAY, WAKING UP IN
THE MORNING, WHEELING MYSELF OUT
OF BED, ON CRUTCHES.
ON CRUTCHES THE FIRST SIX WEEKS.
BUT IT WAS DAILY, LIKE, YOU
KNOW, A MIND SET, MENTALLY
STRUGGLE TO, YOU KNOW, WAKE UP
KNOWING THAT YOU CAN'T PLAY
BALL, KNOWING YOU ARE NOT GOING
TO TOUCH A BALL.
CAN'T BE ON THE COURT.
YOUR TEAM IS PLAYING WITHOUT
YOU.
YOU HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO BE THIS
PLAYER THAT MAYBE EVERYBODY
THOUGHT.
YOU DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S
POSSIBLY EVER GOING TO COME
BACK.
YOU KNOW, A THEN YOU ARE TRYING
TO SHOOT FOR YOUR PERSONAL
GOALS.
IT IS DEMANDING AND IT CAN BE
CAN BE OVERWHELMING IF YOU LET
IT, BUT MAJORITY OF THE PROCESS
IS MENTAL.
THAT'S IT.
>> WHY DID YOU LET IT NOT
CONSUME YOU?
WHAT DROVE YOU AND WHAT DRIVES
YOU TODAY, SHAUN?
>> PASSION, MY PASSION FOR THE
GAME.
MY FAMILY, YOU KNOW, JUST I
THINK MY-- I THINK MORE SO MY
LEGACY OF BEING FROM THIS CITY
AND ALL THAT I HAVE BEEN
THROUGH, YOU KNOW, I THINK ALL
OF THE SUPPORT I HAVE HAD, AND
THEN, AS WELL, MY CRITICS AS
WELL.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE
THAT NECESSARILY DOUBTED ME AND
DIDN'T THINK I WAS CAPABLE OF
HANDLING WHAT I HAD ON MY PLATE,
EXPECTATIONS WISE.
AND I MEAN THAT'S ALWAYS PUSHED
ME.
MY EXPECTATION AS A COMPETITOR
WILL ALWAYS BE HIGHER THAN
EVERYBODY ELSE'S JUST BECAUSE
THAT'S WHO I AM AS A PERSON. SO
THAT WILL ALWAYS CONTINUE TO
DRIVE ME.
>>FEARS, HAVE ANY FEARS, HAVE
ANY CONCERNS?
>> I THINK FAILURE, ALWAYS
STARTED OUT AT A FEAR.
BUT OVER TIME, YOU KNOW, LIKE I
FEEL LIKE MY EXPERIENCES HAVE,
YOU KNOW, HELPED ME CONQUER MY
FEAR, NOT BEING AFRAID TO FAIL.
>>LOOKING AT STATISTICS,
WORLDWIDE TEN MILLION MEN PLAY
BASKETBALL, WORLDWIDE.
EVERY YEAR, THERE IS 60 DRAFTED,
40 TYPICALLY MAKE IT.
SO THE POSSIBILITY OF STAYING
WITH A TEAM FOR THREE YEARS IS
LESS THAN THREE TENTHS OF ONE
PERCENT.
>>WOW.
>> THINK OF THOSE THAT WENT FROM
HIGH SCHOOL TO THE NBA.
WE HAVE LEBRON JAMES, SHAWN
KEMP.
WE HAVE SHAUN LIVINGSTON.
OF THOSE MADE IT, TOP 40 NBA
PLAYERS, TOP 40 IN TERMS OF
EFFICIENCIES, THE BULK OF THEM
CAME RIGHT FROM HIGH SCHOOL,
NEVER PLAYED COLLEGE BALL.
>>REALLY.
>>COLLEGE BALL, MAYBE YOU DIDN'T
MISSANYTHING.
EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT?
>> NO, I REALLY DON'T.
I MEAN THE MOST I THINK ABOUT IS
PROBABLY THE TOURNAMENT, MARCH
MADNESS.
EVERYBODY WANTS MARCH MADNESS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST
THINGS IN SPORTS IS MARCH
MADNESS.
SO I THINK ABOUT IT, JUST WHAT
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE TO PLAY
FOR DUKE THAT YEAR OR HOWEVER
MANY YEARS I WOULD HAVE BEEN
PLAYING FOR DUKE AND GOING TO
THE TOURNAMENT.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE BIG DANCE.
I THINK THAT'S EVERY COLLEGE
KID'S DREAM IN A SENSE.
>>WORKING OUT TODAY, WHAT IS
YOUR TYPICAL DAY LIKE, ASIDE
INTEREST A GAME DAY?
>> WAKE UP, BREAKFAST.
>>WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR
BREAKFAST?
>> GOT TO HAVE EGGS.
GOT TO HAVE PROBABLY OATMEAL.
I PROBABLY HAVE OATMEAL,
PROTEIN, BROWN SUGAR, AND EITHER
CHOICE OF BREAKFAST MEAT, BACON
OR SAUSAGE, AND WATER AND
VITAMINS.
THAT'S GETS ME GOING.
THAT'S GIVES ME THE FUEL.
FROM THERE, I LIKE TO GET TO
PRACTICE EARLY SO I CAN WARM UP
AND GET MY BODY READY AND GET MY
MIND FOCUSED AND MORE SO MY BODY
READY FOR PRACTICE.
THEN I LIFT EITHER BEFORE OR
AFTER, MOSTLY AFTER.
I GET THERE AND I TRY TO GET UP
SHOTS BEFORE PRACTICE.
THAT GETS ME GOING.
WORK ON MY GAME INDIVIDUALLY.
WHETHER IT IS 10, 15 MINUTES,
JUST GET THERE, AND START
PUTTING IN WORK AND WORK ON MY
INDIVIDUAL GAME BEFORE WE WORK
ON THE TEAM SETS.
GET TO PRACTICE.
GO THROUGH PRACTICE.
AFTER PRACTICE, LIFT WEIGHTS.
WORK ON MY BODY, MY REHAB,
EXERCISES FOR MY KNEE.
FROM THERE, I WILL GO GET
TREATMENT, ICE DOWN, ALL THE
RECOVERY.
>>YOUR HOBBIES?
READING, I UNDERSTAND YOU DO A
LOT OF READING?
>> I DO.
I JUST HAVE BEEN GETTING INTO
IT, A PRE-GAME RITUAL, READING
BEFORE GAMES.
>>WHAT DO YOU READ BEFORE GAMES?
>> I JUST FINISHED A BOOK CALLED
"SIDDHARTHA."
>>THAT'S THE BOOK.
TELL ME ABOUT IT.
>>GREAT BOOK.
GREAT BOOK.
EASTERN PHILOSOPHY IN A SENSE.
IT IS ABOUT A WELL-TRAVELED MAN,
STARTS OUT AS A BOY, AND HIS
LIFE'S JOURNEY IS TO FIND PEACE,
LIKE TRUE HAPPINESS AND TRUE
PEACE.
HE SETS OUT, HE SETS OUT AS MORE
OF A HOLY MAN, REALLY, AND THEN
HE SETS OUT FIRST WITH ONE OF
HIS BROTHERS OR ONE OF HIS
FRIENDS HE GREW UP WITH.
THEY KIND OF SPREAD OFF AND THEY
GO SEPARATE WAYS, AND HE GOES
HIS OWN WAY, AND THEN HE KIND OF
TURNS INTO GAMBLING, YOU KNOW,
JUST WORLDLY POSSESSIONS, JUST
KIND OF LIVING AMONGST HIMSELF.
FROM THERE, HE GETS ALL THE WAY
TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ROAD, AND
HE CONTEMPLATES SUICIDE, AND HE
KIND OF HEARS THIS HOLY
EXPRESSION IN A SENSE OF A WORD,
EASTERN WORD "OM."
FROM THEM IT IS ALMOST A SENSE
OF PEACE BEING LIKE HE IS
FINDING HIMSELF.
IT IS A GREAT BOOK.
HE EVENTUALLY MEETS BACK UP WITH
HIS CHILDHOOD FRIEND, AND THEY
TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THEIR
JOURNEYS.
I CAN KIND OF RELATE TO THAT
WITH MY LIFE STORY AS WELL.
ARE YOU AT PEACE AT WITH
YOURSELF?
>>I BELIEVE I AM FINDING PEACE
EVERY YEAR.
I THINK I AM HAPPIER AND
HAPPIER.
THERE WAS A TIME, I AM ASKING A
QUESTION, WAS THERE A TIME IN
THIS REHAB PROCESS TO TODAY,
WHERE YOU ARE STARTING TO SLOWLY
FOR THE BROOKLYN NETS, INTEGRAL
PART OF THE TEAM, WHERE YOU
THOUGHT I THINK I AM GOING TO
QUIT.
DO YOU EVER THINK THIS WAS NOT
GOING TO WORK?
>> NO, I MEAN HONESTLY, WHEN I
WAS GOING THROUGH THE REHAB, NO.
I DIDN'T.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT LEVEL I WAS
GOING TO COME BACK AT AND PLAY.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS GOING TO
BE A SHELL MY OLD SELF, BUT I
JUST FIGURED, JUST BEING THIS
YOUNG AND WITH MY WORK ETHIC, I
FELT LIKE I HAD TO-- I FELT
LIKE I HAD IT IN ME TO COME BACK
AND PLAY.
MENTALLY, YOU KNOW, I MEAN I WAS
A LITTLE OUT OF IT PROBABLY THE
FIRST TWO WEEKS WAS THE HARDEST
AFTER MY SURGERY BECAUSE I
SAW-- I SAW WHAT MY KNEES
LOOKED LIKE, AND I SAW JUST THE
MOUNTAIN PER SE THAT I HAD TO
CLIMB.
>>YOU CLIMBED IT?
>> IT WAS HIGH.
IT WAS HIGH.
>>LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE BROOKLYN NETS, AND YOUR ROLE
THERE.
I WAS GOING THROUGH THE PAYROLL,
AND JOE JOHNSON IS 20MILLION,
AND DERON LIKE 18, AND SHAUN
MILLION TWO-TWO.
AND YET, YOU ARE NEARLY AS
VALUABLE, PERHAPS AS VALUABLE AS
WILLIAMS.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT
DIFFERENCE IN PAY?
IS THAT MEANINGFUL TO YOU?
IS THAT JUST THE WAY IT IS?
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT GETTING
THE BALL FROM A GUY MAKING TEN
TIMES WHAT YOU MAKE?
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, HONESTLY, I
DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS CLICHE, BUT,
YOU KNOW, FOR ME TO GO OUT THERE
AND THINK ABOUT WHAT ANOTHER MAN
IS MAKING OVER ME, WHILE WE ARE
PLAYING TOGETHER, I CAN'T-- YOU
KNOW, I JUST DON'T WORK THAT
WAY.
THAT'S ONE OF MY TEAMMATES AND
MY BROTHERS, AND I THINK WHEN WE
GO THROUGH, WHEN YOU ARE GOING
THROUGH A SEASON, 82 GAMES, YOU
HAVE TO BE UNIFIED IN ORDER TO
WIN IN THIS LEAGUE, IN THE NBA.
IT IS TOO HARD.
WE ARE TALKING THE BEST PLAYERS
IN THE WORLD.
LIKE WE ALL HAVE TO BE ON THE
SAME PAGE.
WOULD I MIND HAVING HIS
CONTRACT?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
(LAUGHING).
>>BUY A COUPLE PAIR OF SHOES.
>>ABSOLUTELY NOT.
BUT WHEN WE ARE PLAYING
TOGETHER, THAT'S NOT REALLY A
FOCUS OF MINE.
I AM THINKING ABOUT THE GAME OF
BASKETBALL, WHAT IS IT GOING TO
TAKE TO WIN.
>>SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS AMONG
THE TEAMMATES,
DO YOU FIND THAT EXISTS?
>> DEFINITELY.
>>EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE GONE FROM
VARIOUS TEAMS, EVERY INSTANCE,
THERE IS A BLENDING OF
RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL THE
TEAMMATES.
>>RIGHT.
>>MANY OF THEM, FIRST OF ALL.
>>IT IS NOT, BECAUSE OF THE
BUSINESS OF BASKETBALL, YOU
KNOW, MY SITUATION, I PLAY ON
EIGHT OR NINE TEAMS.
IT IS HARD TO REALLY GEL AND
MAKE TRUE FRIENDS BECAUSE YOU
ARE NOT AROUND EACH OTHER FOR
BUT A SEASON.
EIGHT, NINE MONTHS, EIGHT, EIGHT
MONTHS. BUT I MEAN YOU LOOK AT
PAUL PIERCE, KEVIN GARNET, THEY
WON CHAMPIONSHIP TOGETHER, THEY
PLAY TOGETHER MANY YEARS.
BEST FRIENDS IN THAT SENSE
BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH
WAR TOGETHER.
LIKE MY GRANDFATHER AND, YOU
KNOW, ONE OF HIS BEST FRIENDS.
WHEN YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED WHAT
THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED AND GONE
THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THE DAILY
GRUELING BATTLES THAT THEY HAVE,
IT BUILDS CHARACTER.
IT BUILDS RESPECT.
I THINK THOSE ARE QUALITIES OF A
TRUE FRIEND.
>>KEVIN GARNET, LIKEWISE, FROM
HIGH SCHOOL TO THE PROS.
>>YES.
>>AND A LOT OF VERY GOOD PLAYERS
HAVE DONE THAT, SKIPPED COLLEGE.
ONLY OBSERVATION IN COLLEGE
GAMES TO PLAY.
SO YOU WENT FROM HIGH SCHOOL,
FROM 30 TO 82.
THAT WAS TOUGH.
>>THAT WAS THE TOUGHEST.
>>YOU HAVE AFRO.
>>(LAUGHING).
>>YOU CHANGED.
>>I DID.
LITTLE BIT MORE HAIR.
JUST A LITTLE BIT!
(LAUGHING).
>>I HAVE SEEN THE PICTURES, A
LOT MORE HAIR.
>>RIGHT.
>>THAT'S OKAY.
BUT THE POINT IS, ARE YOU A
DIFFERENT GUY NOW THAN YOU WERE
AND HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT?
>> OF COURSE, OF COURSE.
>>WHAT DID YOU MAKE THAT FIRST
YEAR?
>> MONEY-WISE, THREE MILLION.
>>THREE MILLION.
18 YEARS OLD, THREE MILLION,
AFTER TAX.
KEEP GOING.
>>RIGHT.
>>BUT IT IS STILL A KID, THOUGH.
STILL A KID.
YOU LOOK AT JUST WHAT I HAVE
BEEN THROUGH, 18 YEARS YOU CAN'T
SAY THAT YOU ARE, YES, I AM
STARTING TO PAY TAXES.
BUT I HAVE SOMEBODY WHO PREPARE
THOSE FOR ME!
(LAUGHING) SO, I MEAN, I HADN'T
REALLY EXPERIENCED LIFE THE WAY
I HAVE THESE LAST TEN YEARS, YOU
KNOW, AND I THINK FROM WHERE I
AM AT NOW, TO BACK THEN, I HAVE
BEEN THROUGH A LOT.
I THINK IT BUILT A LOT OF
CHARACTER.
I HAVE SEEN A LOT.
AND MY EXPERIENCES HAVE SHAPED
ME INTO WHO I AM.
WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING COACHED
BY--
>>GREAT.
>>HALL OF FAME.
>>IT IS GREAT.
IT CATAPULTED ME TO WHERE I AM
AT, HAVING A COACH LIKE THAT
WHO-- HE JUST FINISHED PLAYING.
HE UNDERSTANDS THE GAME AND
UNDERSTANDS THE PLAYERS, IN A
SENSE OF WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE.
>>HE BELIEVES IN YOU.
>>HE BELIEVES IN ME.
HE PETITIONED TO BRING ME TO
BROOKLYN.
AS SOON AS HE GOT THE JOB, I
MEAN I DON'T KNOW--MIGHT HAVE
BEEN A COUPLE WEEKS, MIGHT HAVE
BEEN A MONTH.
BUT I KNOW I GOT A CALL FROM HIM
SAYING THAT HE WANTED ME TO COME
TO BROOKLYN.
I WAS HIS TOP CHOICE.
>>YOU KNEW HIM BEFORE?
>> PLAYED AGAINST HIM.
I KNEW AS FAR AS BATTLING GOING
AGAINST HIM.
HE'S POINT GUARD AS WELL.
>>IT IS VERY UNUSUAL A GUY YOUR
SIZE TO BE A POINT GUARD.
AND YOUR STRONGEST SUIT AS AN
ATHLETE IS POINT GUARD.
WHAT DISTINGUISHES YOU FROM MOST
OF THE OTHER POINT GUARDS?
>> FIRST, JUST TANGIBLES, MY
HEIGHT, LENGTH, BEING 6'7.
THAT'S AN ADVANTAGE RIGHT THERE.
ONCE I GET MY SPOTS ON THE
FLOOR, YOU KNOW, USUALLY I CAN
PASS OVER, I CAN SEE OVER MY
OPPONENT.
SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE.
THEN FROM THERE, I JUST THINK
USING MY ABILITIES TO HELP OTHER
PLAYERS.
BEING A POINT GUARD, YOU HAVE TO
BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE BALL, AND
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PASS THE
BALL.
>>BUT NOT SHOOTING GUARD.
>>RIGHT.
>>HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT,
THAT YOU ARE THE DIRECTOR?
>>RIGHT.
>>BUT YOU ARE NOT THE PERFORMER.
>>RIGHT.
WELL, THE DIRECTOR GETS MAJOR
CREDITS!
(LAUGHING) YOU KNOW!
THE DIRECTOR.
>>MAKES THEM ALL LOOK PRETTY
GOOD.
>>RIGHT.
HE IS THE ONE THAT GETS THE
CREDIT, BIGGEST CREDIT.
>>YES.
>>POINT GUARD AND QUARTERBACK,
TO ME, ONE OF THE HARDEST
POSITIONS IN SPORTS.
THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
TEAM.
A LOT OF PRESSURE, THEY ARE AN
EXTENSION OF THE COACH, A LOT OF
THE PRESSURE, YOU KNOW, THE
CRITICISM AND, YOU KNOW, THE
REVIEWS AS FAR AS THE CREDIT
GETS LABELED TO THE POINT GUARD
OR BEST PLAYER, OR THE COACH,
HEAD COACH.
SO I RELISH IT.
IT IS NATURAL.
TO ME, I HAVE BEEN PLAYING IT
SINCE I WAS, I DON'T KNOW, FIVE
YEARS, SIX YEARS OLD.
I LOVED HANDLING THE BALL.
I HAVE HAD A BALL WITH ME EVERY
WHERE I WENT.
>>BALL AND BOOKS.
>>YEAH, BOOKS.
>>YOUR GRANDFATHER THOUGHT YOU
WOULD BE A LAWYER OR DOCTOR.
>>HE WANTED ME TO BE.
>>AND YOU COULD HAVE--
>>YES.
>>-- HAD YOU CHOSEN.
>>CHOSEN TO GO TO SCHOOL, YEAH.
SPORTS WAS DEFINITELY ALWAYS MY
FIRST LOVE, FOR SURE.
>>YOU REMEMBER EARLY ON, ALWAYS
HANDLING A BASKETBALL, AND WHEN
DID YOU THINK IT YOU COULD MAKE
IT TO THE PRO?
>>REALISTICALLY?
>> YES.
>>TO WHERE IT WASN'T A DREAM ANY
MORE.
YEAH, IT WAS STILL A DREAM.
IT WAS STILL A DREAM, BUT I MEAN
PROBABLY REALISTICALLY, I WOULD
SAY-- I WOULD PROBABLY SAY
JUNIOR GOING INTO SENIOR YEAR.
>>AT CENTRAL.
>>YES.
JUNIOR YEAR, GOING INTO SENIOR
YEAR.
GUYS WERE GOING-- IT WAS
TRENDING.
THAT'S THE NEW WORLD NOW.
IT WAS TRENDING.
I MEAN IT WAS LIKE YOU WERE
SEEING MORE HIGH SCHOOL TO PROS
ATHLETES.
I THINK IT WAS FOUR OF THEM IN
2003, LEBRON OBVIOUSLY COMES TO
MIND.
>>1.8 PER YEAR INCIDENTALLY.
>>WE HAD EIGHT OR NINE.
>>THAT MAKE IT.
>>THAT WENT TO THE FIRST ROUND.
ALL OF US MADE IT FOR, FOUR,
FIVE YEARS, I AM NOT SURE HOW
MANY IS LEFT. BUT I MEAN IT
WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A LOT
GOING ON.
SO THERE WAS A CHANCE, I WAS
LIKE MAYBE I COULD BE ONE OF
THESE KIDS BECAUSE I WAS PLAYING
AGAINST SOME OF THE COMPETITION
TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THAT.
I AM PLAYING AGAINST SOME OF
THESE PLAYERS THAT ARE ALREADY
GOING OUT TO THE PROS AND KIND
OF MEASURING MYSELF UP WITH
THEM.
I AM LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT, I MEAN
IF THIS GUY HAS A CHANCE, I MAY
HAVE A CHANCE.
I MEAN, I AM NOT THINKING, OH, I
AM FROM PEORIA, ILLINOIS, I WILL
NEVER HAVE-- NO, I AM THINKING,
I AM ON THE SAME COURT, TYING UP
THE SAME SHOES, PLAYING WITH THE
SAME BALL, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I GOT
A CHANCE, TOO.
>>A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW, WE
ARE BOTH GHOSTS, PROGRAM LIKE
THIS, TALKING TO THE NEXT SHAUN
LIVINGSTON.
THE NEXT SHAUN LIVINGSTON, YOU
KNOW, I REMEMBER THIS OTHER
SHAUN LIVINGSTON GUY.
HE WAS WHAT?
>> RESILIENT.
RESILIENT.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN THAT'S THE
BUILDING BLOCKS.
IT IS LIKE I THINK THAT GOES
INTO WHAT I DO, HOW I LIVE,
AGAIN, MY GRANDFATHER HIS QUOTE
OF NO EXCUSES.
JUST RESILIENCE, NO MATTER WHAT
HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST KEEP
MOVING FORWARD.
DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO ACCEPT
YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE
TO ACCEPT WHAT HAPPENS, BUT YOU
CAN MAKE YOUR OWN CIRCUMSTANCES.
I THINK THAT'S A MINDSET,
MENTALLY JUST TO BE RESILIENT.
>>THIS HAS BEEN MY PRIVILEGE