Players filed out and the Brooklyn Nets locker room emptied but still several reporters waited around anxiously to hear from one person in particular.  No it wasn’t Deron Williams, it was Shaun Livingston.

The 6’7 point guard quietly got dressed as reporters gathered around.  He had just dropped 19 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in the Nets exciting 104-95 double overtime victory against the Miami Heat.  Filling in the starting spot for Deron Williams, Livingston was a key piece in the Nets win.  His 11 rebounds were a career high and he had important moments in the game including drawing a charge that fouled out King James.

There was a time however when no one thought Livingston would be back on the big stage.  In 2007 while apart of the Los Angeles Clippers, Livingston dislocated his left kneecap while landing on the floor, wrecking his knee and resulting in one of the worst injuries in sports history.

He didn’t return to the NBA until the 2008-09 season and bounced around the league before signing a one-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets.  “I’ve been in some rough places, especially after my injury [in 2007], but that’s a long time ago. And there were a lot of different thoughts, but those doubts kind of turned to faith. My family, everybody that’s been in my corner, God, it’s brought me a long way,” Livingston said after his career night in Brooklyn.

It’s truly amazing to see someone bounce back and overcome adversity.  Livingston not only continued to follow his dream, he worked hard to make sure he could come back better than ever.

– Shaina Auxilly (@Shay_Marie)