在今年夏天 NBA 自由市场开启之时，我们曾报导过 Golden State Warriors 为了腾出空间以招揽 D’Angelo Russell，而将球队近年来的夺冠功臣之一 Shaun Livingston 裁掉。而日前，Livingston 于自己的社群媒体上宣布退休，他 15 年的 NBA 篮球生涯将正式划下完美句点。
Livingston 在生涯的最后五年皆待在 Warriors，五年拿了三次冠军戒指的他看似令人相当羡慕，然而这位 34 岁的资深控球后卫，曾经受过可能无法再重拾篮球的大伤。Livingston 于 2004 年以第四顺位被 Clippers 选中，当时可说是 Clippers 相当看重的球员，并期望他能为球队带来一道重生曙光。可惜 2007 年，这位充满未来希望的年轻球员在对阵当时的 Bobcats 比赛时，严重伤及了他的左膝，而交叉韧带和内侧副韧带亦全部撕裂，同时膝盖骨、股骨和胫骨也都脱臼，严重程度曾一度认为需要截肢。
不过 Livingston 并不打算消沈，而是认真对抗伤病，一步一步慢慢的展开复原之路，而谁也没想到他最后竟还能回到 NBA 球场上。虽然重生回到 NBA 的 Livingston 已不再是曾经的球队主力，也不再拥有无穷的爆发力，更像浪子一般辗转待过 Heat、OKC、Wizards、Bobcats、Bucks、Cavaliers 和 Nets 等多个球队，但他却是一位扎实、高篮球智商的替补绿叶球员。
可能是上帝弥补先前开过的玩笑，Livingston 于 2014 年加盟 Warriors，在这里他找到了属于他的定位，不抢风头的他稳扎稳打的完成每一次控球组织、防守任务。生涯最后的三冠，就是真真正正努力过后的甜美果实，也让 Livingston 的篮球生涯不再有遗憾，唯一的遗憾可能就是无法在 Clippers 退休。
各位不妨于下方阅读他的退休宣言，另外还能留意 NBA「最佳新秀」的竞争，从球鞋合同比拼开始。
在 Instagram 查看这则贴文
After 15 years in the NBA, I’m excited, sad, fortunate and grateful all in one breath. Hard to put into a caption all of the emotions it takes to try and accomplish your dreams. I wasn’t supposed to be here. Anybody that has beat the odds understands the mental and emotional strain it takes to inspire yourself on an uphill war, let alone inspire others. “The injury” gave me a chance to find and prove to myself (and the world) that I wouldn’t be defined by my circumstances. With my time in the League what I will be most proud of is the fact that my character, values and faith were tested, and I persevered. To my pops that told me to “go get the big ball” I THANK YOU. To my Grandpa that always showed me there was more to life than basketball I THANK YOU. To my Uncles that helped raise me like I was one of their own, THANK YOU. To my wife and kids…the future IS BRIGHTER than our past, and I couldn’t see myself taking on this chapter without you. To all of my teammates, coaches, TRAINERS, staff, my journey is a collection of experiences, and those of you that helped me along the way, THANK YOU! To all the fans and anybody else that inspired me, supported me, cheered for me, or even said good words about me, THANK YOU. “The greatest gift we can give is service to others” #Raiseaglass ?
It’s hard to express how thankful I am to have coached this man the past 5 years. What an amazing combination of talent, grace, & character. I will miss his calm leadership,his presence, his passing & his turnaround jumpers in the post. Nothing but great things ahead! https://t.co/rWCPXfFmfB
— Steve Kerr (@SteveKerr) September 14, 2019
