Standing at a reported valuation of $11 billion, the Golden State Warriors are the most valuable NBA team. The mid-2010s indeed proved to be a turning point for the organization, thanks to Stephen Curry , who captured the imagination of millions with his one-of-a-kind shooting range.
No doubt, Curry is the face that changed the game. However, this revolutionary change wouldn't have been possible without the support of many of his teammates. One such member was Shaun Livingston , who served as Steph's backup and played a pivotal role on the team.
Spending the final years of his career playing for the Warriors, Livingston had a tragic past. The 6'7" guard suffered a debilitating knee injury during the 2006-07 season. An injury that had doctors consider amputating his leg as well. However, Shaun managed a miraculous comeback.
The following years had him shuffling teams before he signed with the Warriors in 2014. There was no looking back for Livingston from there on.
"Honestly, I tell people this, especially the young guys, Golden State, this is like basketball nirvana. The opportunity to play for this organization, live in the Bay Area, great fans, great ownership, committed to winning, a coach that knows what he's doing, and superstars that are selfless. We have a great situation," said Livingston, sharing his Warriors journey during a 2019 interview.
Coming off a first-round exit in the 2014 playoffs, the Warriors did show a lot of promise, especially in the backcourt duo of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson . Former GM Bob Myers believed a few tweaks to the roster could make them a legitimate contender in the West.
In the same hope, he approached Livingston in the summer of 2014. Fortunately for Myers, within the first few minutes, he realized Shaun was a perfect fit for Golden State .
"We previously wanted Shaun a year before that, but he signed quickly with Brooklyn," said Bob.
"I remember the day we signed him (before the 2014-15 season), I was down in L.A. and I met with Shaun. He had agreed to the deal, and he was the only player I interacted with where the first thing he said was , 'Tell me how I can help this team win,' and I was kinda like, 'Oh boy, we got the right guy,'" shared the former Warriors GM.
While Livingston officially retired after the 2018-19 season, his association with the Warriors didn't end.
Almost a year after his retirement, Shaun reunited with the Warriors, this time in the capacity of Director of Players' Affairs and Engagement. Interestingly, he would win his fourth ring with the Dubs in 2022, but as a member of the management.
He ultimately withdrew from the role in 2023 to spend time with his family. There is no denying that Shaun cemented a solid relationship with the Warriors, spending five seasons in the Bay. His contributions were certainly pivotal in the Golden State's championship runs.
Though the power rests with the Joe Lacob management, Livingston certainly deserves to see his jersey retired, given his services to the Warriors, with whom he revived his career and became a staple of one of the most exciting times in the franchise's history.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
