One night in February 2013, Livingston, who was already lying down to rest, received a call from his agent.
At this time he was living at home in Peoria, Illinois, alone and not with his parents.
This house was the house he bought in his hometown after receiving his NBA rookie contract. It was his final base in life.
Livingston has been struggling in the dark for five years since that horrific injury struck in 2007.
In five years, he went from Illinois Basketball Player of the Year, the next Penny Hardaway, a genius high school player, to a cripple who almost needed amputation, a player who bounced around various teams, was traded around, and was constantly cut. A fringe player that fell off.
During that desperate, 16-month long recovery process, he even thought about dying and leaving this hopeless world.
But he still gritted his teeth and persevered, recovering bit by bit. He was able to walk and play ball, thinking about returning to the NBA to fulfill his dream.
Of course, the NBA is a place that only believes in strength and not in dreams. No matter how strong your willpower is or how great your dream is, professional managers will only judge your value based on your strength and potential.
There are countless people who want to get a job. No one will show mercy to you because of your tragic experience. Sympathy is always just words, reality is reality.
The 2013 season is almost halfway through. Livingston has tried out with several teams and signed several short contracts, but none of them stayed in the end.
When he was young, people described him as the second Penny Hardaway. He was tall and elegant, and people took a fancy to her potential.
But now that almost 10 years have passed, the so-called potential definitely does not exist. The team only needs experience, that is, combat power, and a reliable defender who can immediately provide firepower and organizational skills on the court.
Is Livingston reliable? In fact, he thinks he is reliable, but his height, playing style, and his potential have faded, so he is not very popular with various teams.
His three-point ability is very average, which is quite fatal in this era. It is also an important reason why many teams do not renew his contract after the trial.
But it seems too late to start practicing three-pointers from scratch now.
Livingston lay on his bed, relaxing in the darkness.
There was a time when he was very afraid of the dark because he was worried that he would not be able to see the sun tomorrow.
It took him a long time to overcome this psychological barrier and allow himself to sleep peacefully.
The call from his agent immediately woke him up from his confusion. Calling him at this time, Livingston suddenly had a premonition that something was about to happen.
He immediately woke up, answered the phone, and asked his agent what was wrong.
The agent paused and said, "Uh... Sean, there is a job opportunity. I wonder if you want to go."
Livingston immediately replied: "Of course I want to go...but..." Livingston immediately emphasized, "I don't want to go overseas. I just want to stay in the United States and play in the NBA. I don't want to play for a European team."
The agent said: "It's not overseas, it's not Europe, it's... going to Los Angeles and returning to Los Angeles to play."
"Go back to Los Angeles? Go to the Los Angeles Lakers? That's a good idea. I can leave tomorrow morning."
"No, it's not the Lakers, it's the Clippers. Olshey called me just now."
As soon as he heard the names of the Clippers and Olshey, Livingston immediately became furious and said directly: "No! No, I won't go to the Clippers to play. Even if I don't have a job, I won't go back to the Clippers! That’s it, I’m going to sleep, I’m dead!”
Livingston hung up the agent's call and lay on the bed angrily.
But he couldn't sleep, and his heart fell into hesitation and struggle.
He has extremely complicated feelings about the Los Angeles Clippers.
This is the team that led him to the NBA and the first stop of his basketball dream.
But here he encountered the biggest setback in his life and suffered a fatal blow.
After the rookie contract expired, the Clippers gave Livingston a minimum salary offer in an insulting manner, and he could sign it or not.
Livingston was a very proud man, and he left in anger to continue his basketball career elsewhere.
He even went to the Charlotte Bobcats, the team that injured him, and the Bobcats generously gave him a two-year, $7 million contract.
But he couldn't forgive the Clippers. When he needed help and was most difficult, the Clippers didn't give him any support or comfort.
At the moment Livingston was injured, the short-sighted Clippers management had already planned to remove him from the team.
Olshey was still the team's assistant coach at the time. This white man with a rather rough personality had always made Livingston quite unhappy.
Now that he is the general manager of the team, he comes to ask for a contract. Livingston just wants to reject him and let him eat some dust.
I felt happy, but after a while Livingston felt a little regretful.
Five years have long since smoothed away his arrogance.
From a half-middle-income job, to a basic salary, to a 10-day short contract.
His valuation in the NBA is getting lower and lower, and he must cherish every opportunity.
In fact, any time a team calls, Livingston will immediately leave for a tryout.
Why is it the Clippers?
Of course, Livingston knows that the Clippers have undergone tremendous changes in recent years.
From a weak team to the most popular championship team in the league.
There are constant topics of discussion, superior strength, and a large number of elite soldiers in the team. Compared with the past, it can be said that it is completely transformed.
And it's all because of the team's new general manager, Smart Min.
Of course Livingston knows Min Congda, this conspicuous package is now recognized by everyone in the league.
In the match against the Clippers, Livingston could also feel that this team is really, really strong.
The playing style and style are completely different from other teams, and there is a feeling of being active in another dimension.
What would it be like to play in such a team?
Will it be particularly stressful?
Is the team atmosphere still as free and unstructured as it was in the past?
Management is as stupid and arrogant as ever.
It's definitely not the case, but what is it like?
Why would they want to re-sign themselves?
Curiosity spreads like weeds in my heart.
Livingston regretted that he should not have refused the agent's invitation just now.
He was hesitating whether to make another call when his agent sent a text message saying: "The Clippers are willing to provide a guaranteed contract for three years."
Seeing this text message, Livingston no longer hesitated. A three-year guaranteed contract, not a 10-day short contract?
Then why is he still arrogant and resentful? Millions of dollars, he also needs money.
Livingston immediately called back and said he accepted the Clippers' invitation.
Two days later, Livingston appeared at Staples Center. Accompanied by Olshey and Ball, he held a press conference to announce the signing of Livingston, a three-year guaranteed contract. Three years as a team option.
Livingston felt like he was in a dream. After flying to Los Angeles yesterday, the Clippers immediately arranged a physical examination and a simple trial training for him.
After the physical examination and trial training, Olshey said, sign the contract. It was so satisfying that Livingston found it unbelievable, so he just signed the contract?
Olshey held Livingston's hand and said, "Sean, welcome home."
As soon as these words were spoken, Livingston's eyes felt a little sore.
Five years, exactly five years later, he returned to the place where the dream began.
When faced with reporters' questions, Livingston said bluntly: "It's crazy, really crazy, I... It's hard for me to describe my mood, it's like a dream. The Clippers are an amazing team. I’ll be here, making my contribution.”
Livingston said it sincerely, but since coming to the team, he has not yet met the legendary manager Smart.
Min Congda did not come to this signing conference. The Clippers were playing an away game outside, and Min Congda went fishing in the Pacific Ocean.
After the press conference, Livingston asked Olshey, "When will Mr. Smart come back? I think I should go see him."
Of course when a team comes, they have to visit the dock. The boss and general manager must be met, especially the general manager, his immediate boss.
He knew that this contract must have been given by Smart, and Olshey did not have this power.
Olshey said: "The day after tomorrow, the team will return to Los Angeles tomorrow, and they will train in the training hall the day after tomorrow. You gather with the team first, and then you will see Manager Smart during lunch."
"During meal time? Mr. Smart will go to the training center to eat?"
"The canteen in the training center is almost opened for him. He will definitely arrive, don't worry."
The Clippers ended a rather long road trip on February 11th, an eight-game trip!
Starting from the game against the Timberwolves on January 30 (the Clippers' long road trips often start in Minnesota), they traveled around the United States from north to south and west to east.
This includes a seven-game losing streak in the Eastern Conference, which was a huge physical and mental drain on the Clippers.
For two whole weeks, the team was traveling, flying, taking buses, and staying in hotels.
But in 8 games, the Clippers achieved a beautiful record of 7 wins and 1 loss. The only loss was against the Galaxy Battleship Heat in Miami.
The Heat, who regarded the Clippers as their opponent in the finals, went all out and showed their best. They took advantage of their home court advantage and relied on strong defense to defeat the Clippers in a thrilling 101:96, 5-point advantage, and won this key matchup. victory.
However, this game was halfway through and it was back-to-back, so the Clippers rested some of their starting lineup.
Curry, Randolph, and Anthony Davis did not appear.
After all, there are too many bloody lessons ahead, and the Clippers have the capital to manage the team's load.
This behavior of the Clippers attracted criticism from some expert commentators, fans and other team personnel.
They believe that fans buy tickets to watch the game live just to watch the stars and watch Curry play.
As a result, Curry stopped playing. Didn’t his tickets go to waste?
There are similar voices in the league office, believing that the Clippers, like the Spurs, are creating a bad trend.
Faced with such criticism, how could Min Congda let go of such an opportunity.
We immediately stood up and confronted the league, saying that we just need to manage the load of the players and pay attention to the health of the players.
The Clippers' media department and official website also posted a news saying: "The Clippers re-signed Livingston. He once suffered a fatal injury with the Clippers. Now, the Clippers let him return to the place where his dream began. We are paying attention The health of the players, only healthy players can provide more exciting games to the fans. In order to win or lose one or two games, if you do not consider the long term, you can only make the fans, players, and teams lose..."
This kind of remarks also won the support of some people, especially players.
In short, the league's public opinion field has launched a fierce debate around the topic of rest rotation.
The good thing for Min Chongda is that Adam Silva fined him again!
Because of inappropriate remarks and criticism of the league, Silva fined Min Congda US$50,000.
Now the league office's penalties for Min Congda are getting heavier and heavier, starting at $50,000 instead of the $20,000 in the past.
This made Min Congda feel very good. He couldn't be too happy. He got a bargain and he sold it well. He said: "I respect the views of the NBA. On the issue of rotation, if we have done something wrong, we will definitely correct it in time and accept it." All punishment.”
Therefore, even if the team has 7 wins and 1 loss, Min Congda is still in a good mood.
50,000 US dollars. The Clippers can't lose this much money even if they lose a season.
After the Clippers returned to Los Angeles on February 12, despite a long road trip, the team still had to train.
Because there is almost no time to carry out systematic tactical exercises in away games, only by returning to your own training hall can you correct the problems.
Of course, because the players are very tired, the amount of training is not large, just running positions and discussions.
Livingston returned to the Clippers for training for the first time. He felt that this place was both familiar and unfamiliar.
Every team in the NBA is a solid camp with flowing soldiers. Many young people’s basketball dreams start with a team.
Therefore, many famous NBA players, if they leave the home team where they were drafted, often choose to return to their home team in the twilight years of their careers, finish their careers and then retire.
Livingston returned to the Clippers and suddenly felt that he might end his basketball career here.
The Clippers' coaching staff and players welcomed Livingston very much. Everyone started training happily, and Livingston observed the first class.
He found that the training atmosphere of the Clippers did not seem to be at all like those of those championship teams, which was very serious and intense, but very relaxed. Everyone was constantly discussing and shouting, and everyone actively participated in it.
This feeling is different from the free and loose feeling of the Clippers in the past.
When it was time to eat at noon, Livingston finally met Min Congda.
Min Congda arrived late. With an income of 50,000 US dollars, he decided to have a Chaoshan beef hot pot meal at noon today.
So Livingston saw the famous manager Smart, with a hot pot in front of him, and a chef serving him slices of beef.
Tyronn Lue brought Livingston over and said, "Mr. Smart, the new players are reporting for the first day today."
Min Congda looked up, frowned, and asked, "Huh? New player? What's your relationship with Karen Mok?"
Livingston was confused, who was Karen Mok?
(End of chapter)
