DeAndre Liggins: “Everybody needs” an Andre Roberson

DeAndre Liggins isn’t content. After starting – and excelling – for the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers, Liggins looks to use lessons from his time in the Land to become an ever better player.

DeAndre Liggins’ rise with the Cleveland Cavaliers was one of the many great storylines of the regular season.

Selected with the 53rd pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic selected a then 23-year-old Liggins for what’s become his calling card throughout his career, defense.

Otis Smith, who was the general manager for the Magic at the time, had this to say about Liggins:

"“Probably more than anything else he’s a tough kid,” said Magic General Manager Otis Smith. “He works. He’s not afraid to work. He’s one of those guys that we can throw into different situations. Probably the biggest thing about him, I think, is he can defend multiple positions.”"

Despite being recruited by Billy Gillispie rather than John Calipari, who took over as the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcat’s basketball team in 2009, his new head coach held Liggins in high esteem.

"“Here’s a young man that yeah, he scored in high school but didn’t shoot the ball. You watch him now, and I will tell you, he will make shots. But you will also see a fabulous defender. And the team needs it, but also he is making his own way now. He’s creating an opportunity for himself. There isn’t a coach at any level that doesn’t want a defender who will go after balls and play with unbelievable energy.”"

Even the head coaches of opposing teams, like North Carolina’s Roy Williams, praised Liggins’ defense:

"“I love DeAndre’s game. I really do. He is a long athletic kid that can guard and wants to guard people. He is involved and as athletic as all get out. A lot of athletic kids don’t have the heart and desire, and I think he is extremely important to their team.”"

He was being compared to Bruce Bowen and Tony Allen.

Nonetheless, because of the questions about his shooting, and a need to refine his defensive technique, he was selected late in the second round 2011 NBA Draft, one in which future teammates Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson and Iman Shumpert were first-round picks.

After considering the possibility of playing overseas during the NBA lockout, he signed his contract with the Magic. In his first year with the Magic, he would earned an appraisal from Stan Van Gundy for both his offense and defense but only appeared in 17 games due to the level of talent they had at the perimeter with Jameer Nelson, J.J. Redick, Jason Richardson, Quentin Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Ryan Anderson all getting and deserving minutes.

Veteran point guard Chris Duhon was Nelson’s backup. Even Larry Hughes, who by that time was a 12-year-veteran, was on the roster.

Liggins signed a multi-year deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder after his one-year contract expired.

After 23 pretty good games for the Tulsa 66ers, 39 games for the Thunder with solid performances throughout, his first career start and a great performance against a high-powered Portland team, 290 minutes played and “love” from Kevin Durant, everything came to a standstill.

***

Liggins would be charged with domestic assault, battery and kidnapping as he and a friend would go to his girlfriend’s home and make the worst decisions of his life. I didn’t ask Liggins about it because I feel as if he’s already serving penance for whatever may have occurred. It’s not that just that he had to have a counselor or take anger management classes, as we found out in David Aldridge’s piece detailing that intimate part of Liggins’ life.

I was glad to find out Liggins has a “good friendship” and not just cordial relationship with his ex-girlfriend and that they can co-parent. He’ll have to remember, actually visualize, what happened that night forever and I can imagine that’s punishment enough because it would be like watching someone else in his body doing things he previously couldn’t imagine.

As he told Aldridge:

"“What happened years ago, that wasn’t me,” he said."

After reaching a plea agreement that would allow him to avoid more serious charges, he would sign with the NBA D-League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce a few months later.

***

Liggins would go on to average 14.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.6 steals per game for the Skyforce, earning him multiple D-League honors, including a Defensive Player of the Year award and an All-Star selection in the D-League. It also earned him two ten-day contracts with the Miami Heat. Unfortunately, those 20 days only resulted in one game and one minute for Liggins.

For any other NBA D-League call-up, that would probably be an accomplishment. For a player who had just experienced what he had with the Thunder, it couldn’t be.

Despite 10 games in the 2015-2015 Summer League circuit that saw him average 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game, an offensive rating of 123.2 and defensive rating of 102.5 and convert 47.8 percent of his three-point attempts, Liggins didn’t even get a chance to stick on a D-League team.

It would become exceedingly obvious that Liggins had entered the NBA “sunken place”. A basketball purgatory where he would have to be forgiven for his sins before he could be seen, heard.

Liggins finally headed overseas in the 2014-2015 season, first playing with Krasny Oktyabr in Russie then Eisbaren Bremerhaven in Germany. After 32 games, Liggins would return stateside more cultured perhaps but no closer to a job in the NBA.

Liggins would return to the Skyforce in the 2015-2016 season and averaged 13.0 points, 7.0 assists, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. He had an offensive rating of 102.0 and a defensive rating of 99.4.

Most importantly, he shot 43.4 percent from three-point range after shooting 31.6 percent from three-point range in international play and 32.6 percent from three-point range in his previous season with the Skyforce.

The Cleveland Cavaliers took notice of Liggins and brought him into training camp.

From there, the rest is history.

***

Liggins would excel on the defensive end throughout training camp, Summer League and the preseason. He played the point guard position better than veterans like Toney Douglas, he was knocking down his three-point attempts.

2016 Summer League Player Report: DeAndre Liggins

On a team with Shumpert and Dahntay Jones beside him for comparison, Liggins looked a little less athletic than Shumpert but more in control. He had the youth and passing ability that Jones didn’t possess.

While the last roster spot came down to him or Jones, when considering the grind of an 82-game season, Liggins had to be the choice.

He proved his worth when J.R. Smith went down in December against the Milwaukee Bucks, earning the “game ball” from LeBron James for his performance as he continued to lock players down on the perimeter and hit his shots.

Days later, the Cavs would play the Warriors on Christmas.

Liggins had the game of his life.

Matched up against Stephen Curry for most of the night, Liggins would use his length and defensive tenacity to bottle lightning, holding Curry to 15 points on 4-11 shooting from the field and 2-7 from three-point range. He picked up Curry fullcourt, he put his body on Curry and played physical, he tagged him after screens and never let him get comfortable.

It as a masterful defensive performance against a two-time MVP and the greatest shooter in NBA history. He didn’t make a single field goal and he only had one assist but it’s the most memorable game in his career because on the biggest stage, a primetime game on nationalized TV that pitted two heavyweight champions against each other, Liggins was the star.

The Cavs won 109-108. Kyrie Irving had 25 points, 10 assists, 7 steals and hit the game-winner over Klay Thompson. Richard Jefferson got a couple of poster dunks.  James had 31 points, hitting four threes in the process and 13 rebounds.

Yet, it was Liggins who was the subject of Jake Fischer’s Sports Illustrated article. Liggins was the NBA Finals x-factor.

Fast-forward five months and Liggins was benched in favor of Iman Shumpert as he began hesitating to shoot.

It’ll always be interesting to me that Liggins, who allowed Irving to focus on offense because of his elite defense on the perimeter, was benched in favor of Shumpert. Shumpert has shown promise on both ends of the court and has a reputation as tough defender on the perimeter. He was shooting a blistering 40.3 percent from three-point range.

Still, part of the beauty of Liggins’ offensive game was it forced James and Irving to score themselves. Considering that they’re two of the most dangerous scorers in the world, and James has a tendency to be passive at times, Liggins’ inclination to drive or pass instead of shoot may not have been ideal for what the Cavs wanted but it was ideal for what the Cavs did.

In fact, Smith has been taking a career-low 3.6 three-point attempts per game in the playoffs. Shumpert has been taking 1.5 three-point attempts per game, his lowest average since his rookie season when he played in 1 postseason game. Both Smith and Shumpert focus on defense and move the ball a bit more on offense.

Liggins, like Jordan McRae, Andrew Bogut and Larry Sanders, was a roster casualty for the Cavs as they tried to perfect the fringes of the roster with players that would be valuable for them in the locker room, and around the rim, the playoffs. Thus, Dahntay Jones and Edy Tavares were signed as Sanders and Liggins were waived.

The Dallas Mavericks claimed him off of waivers and Liggins signed a two-year contract with the Mavericks. There are still three weeks before the final year of his contract is guaranteed.

No matter what team realizes the value of the defensive pressure Liggins, who James called a “diamond in the rough”, can provide, Liggins will excel. He has the chance to backup Wesley Matthews next season if all goes well, playing with another basketball legend in Dirk Nowitzki.

***

King James Gospel was given the opportunity to speak to Liggins and it was a great experience.

In the interview, the questions asked are ones KJG hopes will answer questions that all fans have for him.

[This interview has edited been condensed for clarity]

Albertie: Did your time with the Cavs make you feel like you were a starter, or at least a solid rotation player despite the road you had to take?

Liggins: “Yeah. It made me feel like I could be a starter in this league on many teams. Everybody needs a guy like an Andre Roberson or Thabo Sefalosha on their team.”

Albertie: True. I used to always see you by LeBron on the sidelines. Did you learn anything from him you can use next season with the Mavericks or just a team in general?

Liggins: “Yeah, to me Bron is a coach and a player. He makes the adjustments and sometimes has the final say so. But what I learned from Bron is his vision and the way he approaches the game.”

Albertie: Speaking on that, do you see him shooting threes well and consider shooting around with Seth Curry to get you to a point where it’s second nature for you like LeBron, who kept developing his jumper with Ray Allen and Damon Jones? Or would you have another guy in mind?

Liggins: “I have a trainer for the summer to work with me on my jump shot. I’m not content with what I did this year with the Cavs.”

Albertie: Do you have a preference between playing the 1 and the 2?

Liggins: “I can play the 1, 2 or the 3. I can do more but it will take confidence and a lot of work this summer. Sometimes playing with the Cavs this year I played hesitant at times to shoot. Gaining more confidence in my offensive game this summer will be big for me going into next year.”

Albertie: That’s what I like to hear. This is a bit on the lighter side but I’m from Ft. Hood, Texas. Lived in Killeen for a bit, which is a little bit outside of Dallas. How have you liked playing and staying there?

Liggins: “I haven’t been there often, just got a house in Chicago so I’m here now working out. But I will be in Dallas soon.”

Albertie: What was it like moving from Chicago to Nevada to go to Findlay Prep?

Liggins: “It was a tough decision for me relocating from Chicago to Findlay Prep. But it was a no-brainer as far as their academic resources for me to get to Kentucky.”

Albertie: When you were being recruited by the University of Kentucky and the University of Kansas, what they liked about your game and what made you pick Kentucky?

Liggins: “Both schools liked me as a big point guard that can do it all and the intangibles. What made me pick Kentucky was I really liked the way their academic department was set up. Kentucky basketball spoke for itself alone.”

Albertie: Last question. Do you think the Cavs will win it all again this season?

Liggins: “I think the Cavs will win it all. They have all the tools and the great LeBron James. They will always be my brothers.”

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*Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of www.basketball-reference.com