Bucks’ Chris Livingston on preparing for the second year, working in the summer league and Doc Rivers

LAS VEGAS – After being selected last in the 2023 NBA Draft, Chris Livingston had limited opportunities with the Milwaukee Bucks and played just 90 minutes at the NBA level in his rookie season.

In 21 games with the Wisconsin Herd in the G League, he played to his potential, averaging 13.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 48.2 percent from the field, including 37.1 percent from the three-point line. And now, in his second NBA Summer League, Livingston is continuing that momentum. In Las Vegas, he was one of the Bucks’ most solid players through four games.

Livingston has averaged 15.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 28.1 minutes as Milwaukee has lost its first four games of the July session. Although the team has struggled, Bucks summer league head coach Pete Dominguez is pleased with what he has seen from the rising sophomore.

“I think his effort and energy has been great,” Dominguez said last weekend. “He’s obviously made progress with his long shot. He works on it every day in the gym and I’m really happy to see the progress he’s made.”

“Overall, man, he’s a Swiss Army knife in what he can do on the field. He’s another young guy who has a great future ahead of him.”

With a solid group of experienced players signed to veteran minimum contracts – including this week’s addition of Gary Trent Jr. – Bucks manager Jon Horst has managed to build a strong roster ready to contribute next season. That could leave Livingston out for a second straight year, but that hasn’t stopped the 6-foot-4, 220-pound forward from the University of Kentucky from making his mark in Las Vegas before the 2024-25 NBA season begins.

After the Bucks’ first two games in the summer league, Livingston The athlete to talk about his rookie season, his role with the Bucks in Vegas, his impact on the team in the upcoming regular season and what needs to be done to find a bigger role in his second season.

Editor’s note: The CThe conversation has been edited for clarity and length.

You didn’t get much playing time in your rookie season. How did you approach the summer league this July?

It’s a struggle, you know what I mean? I’ve been working hard. I’m trying to get in the best shape of my life, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m working on developing my skills, on my shot. My shot has always been there, but I just need to speed it up. I’m ready to shoot and I’m changing my mindset about it.

I think this year is going to be about sacrifice for me. I’m going to do a lot of things that I’ve never done before in my life, whether it’s moving to the four or the five. I’m going to be all over the court because I can do a lot of things. Instead of looking at it as a bad thing, I just want to accept that the coaches believe in me and allow me to do certain things on the court that other people can’t. So I’m just accepting that part of my game, sacrificing a lot for the team and just doing whatever I have to do to get a spot on the court. Like last year, I’m a young guy on a very talented team led by experienced players, so I’ve got to do whatever it takes at this point.

Obviously, I’m going to be focused on defense and put my effort and energy on that side of the ball. But on offense, it’s just about finding my niche and figuring out where coach needs me. Whether that’s the corner, the dunker, screen-and-rolling, or me at the five, two, three or four, I don’t care. I’m just going to do whatever is asked of me.

When talking to Pete Dominguez, he said he asked a lot of you in the summer league. How did you try to deal with that? More film study? More conversations with coaches?

I think it’s just a different level of focus. I ask the coaches questions, watch film with them and just stay focused to the extent that I know where I need to be.

Defensively, for me, being on the wing, defending the wings or receiving the ball is a lot different than defending the big man. When I defend the five, I have to be a lot louder. I have to talk more. At that point, I’m the anchor of the defense. When I receive the ball, I have to fight through the screens and be active with my hands.

I think I just have to figure out what the coach is telling me to do, offensively and defensively, and make that sacrifice…that’s going to be a big word for me: sacrifice. Just understanding, doing what I’m told, doing what I’m asked to do. I’m just going to try to embrace it. I’m not going to look at it as a bad thing. Young players would say, ‘He’s putting me out of position,’ or ‘I’m not doing what I want to do on the field.’ At the end of the day, I’m just trying to do what I need to do to help the team win and just be on the field.

Players like yourself, Andre Jackson Jr. and MarJon Beauchamp were all here last summer. How have you embraced taking on a leadership role this summer?

I take that very seriously, even if it’s just in training camp. AJ (Johnson) and Tyler (Smith), our new rookies, come up and ask us questions, so it’s about answering them properly. But I’m also a young guy, so I have to listen as much as I can. Communication isn’t just telling people what to do; it’s listening, too.

Being a good listener, keeping my attitude under control, great body language, just understanding that I’m trying to do what I need to do to win. Being vocal but also saying the right things in the right tone. Learning how to say what you need, getting to know your teammates, learning how to talk to them and most of all just being an encourager.

Even though you’re only 20 years old and in your second NBA season, how do you keep in mind that this is still a very special place, even if things haven’t worked out quite as you imagined?

I don’t take any of this for granted, brother. I’m a hard worker. I come in early and leave late. I think that’s what the coaches can expect from me and what the staff and everybody can expect from me.

I think the most important thing is that I don’t let myself be discouraged by being so young. I can still move like a pro, act like a pro, listen to the things my veterans tell me, the do’s and don’ts. I listen 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.

Was there a moment in your first season when you thought you had made it or felt like you belonged?

I think throughout your career you never think, “Oh, I figured it out. This is what I need to do.” I think you just learn as you go. It’s a journey. You just take it, learn. As a third-year player, you can listen to a rookie telling you what to do, you know what I mean? As a first-year player, of course you should listen to your coaches and veterans.

My teammates are still learning things along the way. They’re getting used to things that have to change the way they play because they’re at an advanced stage of their careers, not just in year three. I think you learn a lot of things along the way. It’s just about taking it all in and really listening.

During your rookie season, there was a coaching change, which is never ideal for a young player, but the result of that change is that you are now coached by a seasoned NBA head coach with 25 years of experience, Doc Rivers. What was it like getting to know him?

I think it’s been great getting to know him and him getting to know me. It’s been a process, but I understand the kind of player he wants. He needs dogs around his superstars. He needs people to do the little things, the dirty work.

You can look at his past history, the success he’s had coaching other teams, those types of players really thrive under his wing. I just feel like I’m that type of player, so I’m excited for him to get to know me even more and really take me to heart. Hopefully we can deepen our relationship over time.

(Photo: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)