Saturday, June 29, 1996

Livingston Wants To Put Injuries Behind Him and make the Rockets

By MICHAEL A. LUTZ
Associated Press

HOUSTON - Randy Livingston is smart enough to know that with his inexperience and history of injuries, he's a longshot to make the Houston Rockets roster.

He's also confident enough to like his odds.

"I definitely want to be at full strength when the season starts and by mid-season I hope to have a lot of playing time and help the Rockets," Livingston said.

The Louisiana State sophomore decided to participate in the NBA's pre-draft workouts to showcase his skills prior to Wednesday's NBA draft and he was pleased with his performance.

The Rockets chose Livingston with the 13th pick of the second round, the 42nd overall. Livingston played only 29 games at LSU because of knee injuries his freshman year and a back ailment his sophomore year.

"I never thought about not being drafted," Livingston said. "I thought I played well at Chicago. You have a choice to play at Chicago. Some sit back and say they know what you can do.

"I just decided to play to make sure everyone knew (he could play)."

Livingston's talent was unquestioned coming out of New Orleans Newman High School where he led his team to three straight state Class 2A championships.

But he's been injury-prone since high school. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in July 1993, and was redshirted for the 1993-1994 season.

He stepped into LSU's starting lineup as a redshirt freshman in 1994-95 but after 16 games he fractured the patella bone in his right knee. Another season lost.

As a sophomore, he suffered lower back injuries on Jan. 10 and eventually withdrew from school to work on his rehabilitation.

Now he's ready to turn his luck around with the Rockets.

"When the 42nd pick came around, I was watching with my family and I only heard my first name called because everyone was celebrating so loud," Livingston said. "It's a good opportunity for me, so close to home."

Rockets coaches like Livingston's court sense and passing ability.

Before he was injured as a freshman, Livingston was tied for the NCAA lead with 10.0 assists per game. He had 18 assists, one short of the school record, in one game. Until he was injured as a sophomore, Livingston was averaging 6.1 points and 5.3 assists per game.

"We felt it was a very good gamble at that spot because he's got a lot of talent," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said.

The Rockets drafted Georgetown center Othella Harrington with the 30th pick and chose center Terrell Bell of Georgia with the 50th pick.