Shaun Livingston talks camp kids, NBA championship rings and his Warriors legacy

PEORIA — Someone asked Shaun Livingston if he brought his NBA championship rings with him Tuesday.

"No, those are in a special place at home," he said, grinning.

But they were very much with him in his heart and in his mind, as were the 200 kids in constant motion at the 2022 Shaun Livingston Foundation Pride of Peoria youth basketball camp.

The retired NBA star presided over twice-daily sessions — which began Monday and run through Thursday — on the Peoria High School gym floor where he played in his prep career.

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"We've had a commitment of coming together in the community to do this camp," said Livingston, 36, decked out in a gray shirt on which was printed "Believe in yourself" as he led kids through drills and watched over scrimmages. "We see kids come up through these camps and go on to do other things. (NFL player) Kendrick Green is an example, came to this camp, went on to great things."

"We want to pass on some life skills."

Growing up at Peoria's camps

When he was a kid, Livingston went to camps hosted by Bradley star Hersey Hawkins and the Manual Rams contingent and others.

"Hersey's camp, Jim Les, (legendary Peoria area basketball coach) Chuck Westendorf's camp, I went to all those," Livingston said. "I went to the Manual guys' camps. The Manual guys were our superstars. It's important to give back to the community, and for kids to see you giving back. We want to keep growing and building the game here, too.

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"I don't want to sound like that old dinosaur, but Peoria High, Manual, the Peoria high schools all have to get better now, because it's Metamora, Washington, Morton, those are the places you have to compete with to get to the state tournament."

'What are they gonna say now?'

The 6-foot-7 Livingston won NBA championship rings with Golden State in 2015, 2017 and 2018. He played 833 regular-season games in a 14-year NBA career, plus another 126 playoff games.

He began and ended his career in California, spending his first three years with the L.A. Clippers and his final five as part of Golden State's dynasty. In between, he had stops at Miami, Oklahoma City, Charlotte, Washington, Milwaukee, Cleveland and Brooklyn.

He made a comeback from a horrific knee injury in 2007.

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Livingston has transitioned from his career on the court to one in the front office, serving now as director of player affairs and engagement for the Warriors. It was in that capacity he stood at center court and had the honor of presenting his former teammates with the Western Conference championship trophy in late May.

Then he was on the floor in June after the Warriors closed out the Celtics, in Boston, to clinch their fourth NBA title in eight years.

Livingston embraced Draymond Green amid that celebration.

"What are they gonna say now?" Livingston said, recalling what Green told him over and over on the floor. "The guys had to endure so much debate, and that fourth title really solidified who they are.

"Special team, special players."

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Shaun Livingston talks camp kids, NBA rings, Warriors legacy