During the 2006-2007 NBA Development League season Randy Livingston had a career year for the Idaho Stampede eventually leading to his winning the NBADL MVP award. Showing that hes once again a likely MVP candidate this year by dropping 20 assists in his first game back, the former LSU point guard spoke with me about his future in coaching, getting his college degree, and the work hes doing with his foundation, Game Time Louisiana.
Richard Walker: Youre looking good, admittedly its still early in the season, but are you feeling healthy?
Randy Livingston: Yeah, Im good. Training camp was a little tough, but everythings good. I was real sorry I missed the first game, but I had a prior event with my foundation a free basketball clinic so I missed it, but I was happy to meet the team in Denver and get a win, and then again tonight. But this is probably going to be a battle for the rest of the year with us against them. They have a good team, and theyre better than last year. [Los Angeles D-Fenders Head Coach] Dan [Panaggio]s done a great job with those guys, so were just lucky to get a win out here.
Richard Walker: I realize you havent seen all of the teams yet, but it seems like the talent overall is actually much higher than it was last year. It seems like every team in the league has a solid starting five and even a little bit of a bench.
Randy Livingston: I think so. I think the talent is good, and youve got some good coaches spread throughout the league so they know the talent and they know the minor league system and theyve got players that can play. Its going to be a tough draw, but its always good early to get wins on the road, it shows a lot about the team, the character and kind of the makeup of whats to come. Weve got a long way to go, but it was good to get out of here with a win.
Richard Walker: There was some talk of you maybe going into coaching after last year you were the MVP and you were on the fast track to coaching what made you decide to come back as a player?
Randy Livingston: I think every year for me could be the end, but I think now I have a legit exit plan. This is the first year where the D-League has partnered with the University of Phoenix and Im going to hopefully get my degree in April or sometime early in the summer.
Richard Walker: Congratulations.
Randy Livingston: Thats pretty much the reason I came back. We got together and now thats my exit plan. As soon as I get my degree we have some options: whether I want to do college, minor leagues, or go out and get an NBA spot. At the same time I still enjoy playing and Ill just let the chips fall where they may. I enjoy being around these guys, teaching them, playing with them and being a leader to them.
Richard Walker: You mentioned your foundation, can you talk a little about that?
Randy Livingston: The foundation is called Game Time Louisiana. Its non-profit and I had a camp of about a hundred kids at the free basketball clinic during the Bayou Classic weekend in New Orleans thats my home city and its just something to give back to the community. Weve been through a lot down there with Hurricane Katrina, and the local playground that I grew up playing on is probably the only one up and running and so I think that can make a big difference. A community is basically built by the kids and we can catch them young, and just let them see something positive, a guy that came from the same environment that they come from, make it and be a successful citizen, a basketball player, or whatever they want to be in life. Its just a chance to give them somebody to look up to with a positive outlook. I think we accomplished that during the camp.
Theres more to come: during the All-Star game [weekend] theres some promo stuff with the D-League and with the NBA with a couple of events that Ill do with them during the NBADL All-Star game and the NBA All-Star game which are both in my home town of New Orleans. For me, Im at a point in my career where theres a lot of things that are important and thats one of them, just giving back to the community. Like I said, I now have an exit plan, and this is just something that Ill build on as I continue to live.
Richard Walker: Whats your degree in?
Randy Livingston: Im a Mass Comm major. All my life I kind of wanted to be like Ahmad Rashad and have a show like that, but not necessarily doing broadcasting. I actually did an internship with the NBA and we got to go to NBA Entertainment and do some on-air live television with me and Ian Eagle from the New Jersey Nets. That was a fun experience, but Id still rather be like Ahmad Rashad. I minored in Political Science, so maybe there will be some politics later on. I like coaching, I like teaching, thats where my heart is, so eventually one day I hope Ill be there.
Richard Walker: Thanks a lot.
Randy Livingston: I appreciate it.
Richard Walker: No problem.
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