The Golden State Warriors became a dynasty with Steve Kerr as their head coach, but their ascendance began while Mark Jackson was leading the team before he was fired in 2014. An interesting anecdote shared by a former Warriors player gives some extra credit to Jackson for the role he played in helping to build the championship rosters.
Shaun Livingston was a guest on the Dec. 6 episode of “The Financial Samurai Podcast.” Livingston was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. He entered the NBA straight from high school and suffered a devastating knee injury that caused him to miss the entire 2007-2008 season. The injury derailed Livingston’s career, and it took him a few seasons before he could really play a full schedule again.
Livingston eventually settled into a role as a guard off the bench, though he started in 54 of the 76 games he played for the Brooklyn Nets in the 2013-2014 season.
Livingston was scheduled to be a free agent after the 2014 season, and he revealed on “The Financial Samurai Podcast” (6:20 mark) that Jackson had an influence on him.
“It’s interesting. The year I was in Brooklyn, we played Golden State,” Livingston recalled on the show. “They were on an East Coast road trip. And they were on a back-to-back … they were really rolling. They had a really good year that year. This was a night in January. And I remember going to chapel. And who walks in? Mark Jackson. Mark Jackson walks in. I see him, nod, say what’s up.
“We go through chapel and then afterwards, he stops me. ‘Hey man, really proud of your journey. We’re watching you. Keep going.’ I just remember him giving me that affirmation. Somebody that I really respected … great coach at the time. Golden State’s really rolling, having a lot of success. And so in the back of my mind, Golden State is an option.”
Recalling Jackson’s encouragement, Livingston ultimately chose to sign with the Warriors. He made a great decision, because the team won a championship in his first year with them. They made the NBA Finals in all five of his seasons with the team and captured three championships. And the irony is, the man whose compliment resonated with him, wasn’t even part of those teams. Jackson had been fired in 2014; all the teams championships came under Steve Kerr.
Livingston retired in 2019 and worked in the Warriors’ front office thereafter, but he just stepped away from his role. He talked about his career path and more in his interview with Financial Samurai.
