Harvard class prepared Livingston for frontoffice role with Warriors
Shaun Livingston was a 34yearold father of two when he stepped on campus for his first MBA course.
It was late February, and Livingston — a former NBA point guard who won three titles with the Warriors — had paid $10,250 for a Harvard class called “The Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports.” As he curled his 6foot7, 192pound frame into a
desk, Livingston was overcome with jitters: Could he do the coursework? What if the professor called on him, and he didn’t have the answer?
“I was super, super, super nervous,” recalled Livingston, who was hired Monday as Golden State’s director of player affairs and engagement. “Real nervous, more than going to the Finals. You know what I’m saying? That’s how I felt. That’s how I really felt.”
Livingston’s apprehension was understandable, given that he was last in an academic setting his senior year at Peoria Central High School (Ill.) in 2004. A multimilliondollar contract as a lottery pick with the Clippers had trumped a chance to play for Mike Krzyzewski at Duke. But to be ready for a postplaying career in the Warriors’ front office, Livingston knew that he needed a bit of an education.
For two days, he and fellow former NBA point guard Jameer Nelson joined exprofessional athletes from a wide range of other sports for lectures at Harvard. Over the next three months, Livingston worked from his Oakland home on assignments, which included a case study on Dwyane Wade’s marketing portfolio.
When Livingston had questions, he contacted teaching assistants Russell Citron and Mike Anders for help. Those within the Warriors’ organization who’ve gotten to know Livingston over the past six years weren’t surprised to learn that he earned a passing grade in the passfail course. Livingston is meticulous in whatever he does — whether studying a scouting report, leading Golden State’s second unit or speaking on politics.
“Shaun is the epitome of class and professionalism and is everything you’d want in a teammate, both on the court and off,” Warriors general manager Bob Myers said. “What he helped us accomplish in his five years with the organization pales in comparison to who he is as a human being, and we can’t wait to work with him again in another capacity.”
Few should be surprised that Golden State created a frontoffice role for Livingston, who expects to do a little of everything — scout, mentor players, sit in on team meetings — in his new position. He spoke openly toward the end of his 15year playing career about wanting to become an NBA executive.
The flexible schedule, challenge of putting together a championship roster and chance to build relationships all appealed to Livingston, who has two young daughters with his wife, Joanna. By joining the Warriors’ front office, he can stay in the Bay Area and help map out the next phase in a franchise that he helped take to five straight Finals.
“I think the stars were aligning, whether the timing was now or in a year or two,” said Livingston, who hopes someday to become an NBA general manager. “The front office always kind of intrigued me as a player. Now that I’m in the front office, we’ll see if it still intrigues me. I’m looking forward to it.”
Since retiring from playing in June 2019, Livingston has kept his focus on family time and personal growth.
In addition to the MBA course he took through Harvard, he finished a couple of classes the NBA provides for players transitioning into the next stage of their careers. His hope was actually to take another Harvard course with former teammate and Warriors team consultant Zaza Pachulia, but, as Livingston put it with a chuckle, Pachulia “kind of pump faked on me.”
There should be plenty more opportunities to learn in coming months. Though Livingston’s varied playing experience — from franchiseplayerinwaiting to journeyman contributor on a championship team — wellpositioned him for his current role, he recognizes that he will be a frontoffice rookie next season.
“I’ll be able to learn the ins and outs from the ground floor up a little bit, just getting my hands dirty and being in the mix, but also trying to provide value,” Livingston said. “I don’t ever want to hold anything back from the team, or not spend time with the coaches or players if that’s going to help the team going forward.”