A big question mark could provide some big answers
Given where he was picked in the 2023 NBA Draft, to see Chris “Mr. Irrelevant” Livingston rise to 12th place in our Ranking The Roster series is quite the feat.
Selected out of Kentucky and given a relatively large contract to boot (four years, $7.6 million), the then-19 year-old was a complete unknown as far as the professional level was concerned. He measured in at 6’6” and around 220 pounds, so the wing archetype was his most obvious fit. Still, he didn’t shoot the ball much or exceedingly well in college and made his name as a rebounder and defender. Was there really much of a place for someone with a raw skillset on these Bucks? Could the team dedicate the time and proper direction to get him to take not just the next step, but two, three, or four more past that?
Having never broken into even nominal rotation with the Bucks last season, the best we had to go off of was his progress with the Wisconsin Herd. In 16 G-League appearances he averaged 28.0 minutes played, 14.1 points (.468/.377/.471), 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 assists. Encouraging! His 3PAr hung around at a pretty lean 18.8% of his shot volume, but it also indicated slightly more depth to his scoring ability even as the payoff guy to a team action.
Prior to this summer, then, the jury would’ve been out on Livingston with signs of light encouragement.
Then 2024 Summer League happened, and here we are.
He led his team in minutes played, scoring, rebounding, and logged an impressive 42.9% mark from distance (on just 2.8 attempts a game, but still). Best of all, we got to see him flash his mettle on defense as well, often taking on the assignment as the catch-all defender asked to take tough wings initially before sliding up and down the positional scale occasionally to relieve pressure from his teammates.
Now, it was not a strong team overall, but it was highly encouraging to see Livingston find plenty of ways to fit in while never taking the spotlight away from teammates like AJ Johnson or MarJon Beauchamp. Chris drove a bit, set himself up in the corners as a possible payoff guy, ran the floor hard in transition, and could power his way to the rim from time to time. Suddenly and seemingly a little out of nowhere Livingston had gone from deep bench project to player with something worth seeing at the next level. That’s a huge credit to the work he put in and the team’s development plan in year one.
The question is how he breaks through into the Bucks rotation. His direct competition is one veteran in Taurean Prince and another young guy with upside in Andre Jackson Jr. for that bench wing defender spot in particular. A lot depends on how coach Doc Rivers intends on doling out opportunities in the first half of the season. If Prince will be saved a bit for the post-All Star run and playoffs, there will be spot minutes to go around. AJax is more physically dynamic than Livingston, but also prone to over-fouling and struggling to fill specific lanes on offense. Of course, any injuries would also open the path at the start of the year, although I doubt either young player will be deputized as the full-time solution should a hole in the regular rotation appear.
I do wonder about Livingston’s size against NBA players, too. In Vegas he looked the part of a second-year pro who was of equivalent size to opponents with more strength to boot. As a rookie in victory/defeat cigar lineups, it struck me that he always seemed noticeably smaller than those around him. A trick of the cameras or something that may ultimately limit how effective he can be in a second campaign?
Either way, I think I speak for many when I say it’d be fascinating if Livingston got a little real burn with bench units with something to play for. Jackson Jr. gets christened with the “connector” label often as a go-between guy on offense who can dynamically keep the ball moving. Livingston could also prove to be a connector in his own way by staying out of the way, hitting shots, and stiffening Milwaukee’s defense for short stretches. It sounds like a small role, but even a small role represents a real step forward.
I hope he gets a chance to show what he’s got!
But hey, I’m a Chris Livingston apologist. Where do you see him stacking up in the Bucks playoff rotation?
And let’s find out who will be 11th on this year’s list!
Polls close at 8 AM (Central) tomorrow as always!