The National Basketball Association has seen many success stories of second round draftees through the years, the biggest in recent memory are All Stars Draymond Green and Isaiah Thomas, who were drafted 35th and 60th overall in their respective draft classes. Another second round draftee in DeAndre Liggins is making a name for himself after almost not making it into the league.
After being drafted in 2011 as 53rd overall pick by the Orlando Magic, Liggins has had a rollercoaster career going in and out of the NBA to the Developmental League and overseas leagues following a domestic violence case. The former Kentucky player was thinking he could never set foot again in the league for what he did.
The 28-year-old, who engaged in an argument with then girlfriend Jasmine Horton, was charged by with two counts of battery with a dangerous weapon, three counts of domestic abuse in the presence of a minor and one count of violating a protective order, NBA.com reported. Now, he is a starting guard for NBA champions Cleveland Cavaliers.
It was a tough road for the former two-time NBA D-League Defensive Player of the Year as he had to leave the bad memory behind and to put more work into his game. Liggins told NBA's David Aldridge that he and Horton already have a good relationship and they are cooperatively raising their son, Bryce. He is now attending NBA's counselling services and has never missed or been late in meetings.
Liggins is currently filling in for J.R. Smith who will be out for three months behind a broken thumb but Smith's injury might have been a blessing in disguise for the Cavs and Liggins himself. By starting Kyrie Irving, Liggins, LeBron James, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson, the Cavaliers have the second-most effective five-man group in the NBA that has played more than 50 minutes behind a 43.5 net rating, Sports Illustrated reported.
Cavs head coach Tyrone Lue put his faith on Liggins after seeing his defensive tenacity in the D-League and it is paying off for Cleveland, which leads the Eastern Conference with a 26-7 record. When he faced Steph Curry last Christmas, Liggins was a big reason for the reigning MVP scoring just 15 points.