[Eric Nehm] Chris Livingston: “I take none of this for granted, bro. I’m a hard worker. I come in early, I leave late. I think that’s what the coaches can expect of me and what the staff and everybody can expect of me.”

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5646759/2024/07/20/bucks-chris-livingston-summer-league/

Nehm: Despite being in your second NBA season, you’re still only 20 years old. How do you keep in mind that this is still a pretty special place to be even if things haven’t completely gone your way?

Livingston: I take none of this for granted, bro. I’m a hard worker. I come in early, I leave late. I think that’s what the coaches can expect of me and what the staff and everybody can expect of me.

I think, most importantly, being this young is not being discouraged that I’m young. I can still move like a pro, act like a pro, listen to the things that my vets are telling me, the dos and don’ts. Listening to what the coaches want from me and ask of me. I think just because I’m young doesn’t mean I can’t do the right things, on and off the court.

Nehm: In your rookie season, you didn’t receive much playing time. How have you approached summer league this July?

Livingston: It’s a fight, you know what I’m saying? I’ve been working. Trying to get in the best shape of my life, that’s what I’m going to do. Working on my skill development, my shot. My shot’s always been there, but just speeding my shot up. Being ready to shoot, changing my mindset when it comes to that.

I think this year for me is going to be about sacrifice. I’m going to be doing a lot of things I’ve never done before in my life, whether that’s moving to the four or the five. I’m going to be everywhere on the court because I can do a lot of things. Instead of looking at it as a bad thing, I just want to embrace that the coaches believe in me to do certain things on the court that other people can’t do. So, just embracing that part of my game, sacrificing a lot for the team, just doing whatever I gotta do to find a spot on the court. Like last year, I’m a young guy on a very talented, vet-driven team, so I gotta do whatever it takes at this point.

Obviously I’m going to be locked in defensively, bringing the effort, the energy on that side of the ball. But offensively, just finding my niche, finding where the coach needs me to be. Whether that’s the corner, the dunker, screen-and-rolling, me at the five, two, three, four, it don’t matter to me. I’m just going to do whatever I’m asked to do.

Nehm: Players like you, Andre Jackson Jr. and MarJon Beauchamp were all here last summer. How have you embraced being a leader this summer?

Livingston: I’m embracing that a whole lot, even if that’s just in training camp. AJ (Johnson) and Tyler (Smith), our new rookies, are coming in asking us questions, so (it’s about) just getting them right. But also, I’m a young guy, so I gotta listen as much as possible. Communication is not just telling people what to do; it’s listening, too.

Being a good listener, keeping my attitude in check, great body language, just understanding I’m trying to do what I gotta to do to win. Being vocal, but also saying the right things with the right tone. Learning how to say what you need, learning your teammates, learning how to talk to them, and just being an encourager more than anything.