Shaun Livingston

"... With the fourth pick the Los Angeles Clippers select ... Magic Johnson" No, I'm not crazy nor the unusual hot New York bumped the head. It was 2004 when the Clippers chose Shaun Livingston in the draft, and this sentence was the most common joke at the time among the experts NBA. High over 2 m., point guard, brimming with talent and poetic movements. This was Shaun when he landed in the NBA, with the poor part of LA convinced that he had placed the hit of the century and to give battle to the Lakers for the leadership of the West. Other times, other NBA.

 

February 2007. Livingston retrieves a ball , flies toward the basket and ready to crush his knee does crack. But not just any crack. The images are shocking and go around the world in record time, and now even the game balls understand that the career of the boy is in serious danger.

The son of Illinois, entered the NBA in the front door, with the afro and hands of a tailor is likely to go out with the worst possible leads. The truth is that just arrived at the hospital the news to Shaun were far worse, the first diagnosis read "required limb amputation." The subsequent investigations reported S. on earth from oblivion in which he had fallen. Passes more than one year from the total reconstruction of the knee, but in the meantime he was born in the hope of returning to play, maybe in the NBA, after all why not try?

Livingston sign with the Heat, but until 2012 collects just over 100 appearances, changing 7 team, and even going to the D-league, the league of the NBA's development. Then something happens. Call it what you want, call it a Christmas miracle, basketball competence of the GM, or perhaps more simply fate, that is December 25 of last year the Cleveland Cavaliers offered him a contract that guarantees him to fight for a starting spot (also because of the 'Irving's injury) and Shaun takes the opportunity to fly and stands out as one of the surprises of last season. This summer, then the miracle is accomplished in full. The multi-billion dollar offer to do the Brooklyn Nets for Deron Williams tucked in at the same roster of one of the frontline stronger than the recent NBA history. From Magic to  another new talent ruined by an injury, finished as a player in 6/7 man in a team to the title. To Hell and Back, the story of Shaun Livingston, another incredible story of an African-American who has done it, but for real.