Shaun Livingston once lay in a Los Angeles hospital bed, his future mobility spinning in doubt. He was 21 years old and his left knee had practically exploded as he raced toward the basket while playing for the Clippers on Feb. 26, 2007.
Livingston tried not to contemplate the grim possibilities, which included the end of his promising NBA career. Or, worse, not walking again. Or even amputation.
Now, at 30, Livingston is an indispensable player on the best basketball team on the planet. He made seven starts in the first two rounds of this year’s playoffs, allowing the Warriors to weather Stephen Curry’s absence.