Former NBA Player DeAndre Liggins on signing with the London Lions
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Brian Bosche and Skylar Smith got a chance to catch up with Deandre Liggins, the exciting new signing for the London Lions.
It was announced in July that the London Lions would be signing 32 year-old defensive specialist, DeAndre Liggins. The Lions hope Liggins’ NBA experience will help them find success in their new venture into the Basketball Champions League.
DeAndre’s CV
Liggins has quality NBA experience. The Orlando Magic drafted Liggins in 2011 after he impressed at the University of Kentucky. Liggins’ versatility and defensive skills landed him on seven different NBA rosters, playing 144 total games. His longest tenure was with the Miami Heat and their affiliate G-League team. Liggins played alongside some NBA greats, most notably Lebron James and his championship 2016-17 Cleveland Cavaliers team. He last played in the NBA in 2018 with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Liggins was an NBA G-League All-Star. He bagged a G-League championship, and two Defensive Player Of The Year awards during his time with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, affiliate team of the Miami Heat.
The London Lions’ Venture Into Champions League
The London Lions have been impressive over the past few years. In 2019, the Lions won their first BBL league title. This season, they will test their team in a new league, as they enter the Basketball Champions League. The Lions’ first challenge will come against Neptunas Klaipeda in the first qualifying round in September.
Lions Head Coach Vince Macaulay believes Liggins will be a great help in their quest in the Champions League, saying “We wanted someone that would nullify the highest of European talent and we think we have him.” The Lions recently re-signed two time BBL MVP Justin Robinson but will face the loss of Great Britain International Ovie Soko who recently departed for Le Mans Sarthe.
Our Chat with Deandre
We were able to catch up with Deandre Liggins over Zoom days before he was set to fly to the U.K. to join the London Lions.
Liggins told us a bit about why he’s excited to join the Lions. “It’s a great organization, a real up-and-coming organization,” he told us. The Lions new venture in the Champions League this year was a big factor in Liggins’ decision. He sees it as a challenge, and “I love a challenge.” Liggins hopes to help put British basketball on the map during his time with the Lions, saying his goal is that more people (read: Americans) can speak on British Basketball and say “I know them. I know their league.”
Liggins has played basketball all across the United States and has some international experience in Spain, Greece, Russia and Germany. When asked if there were big cultural adjustments when joining each team, he assured us he can make himself feel at home anywhere he goes. Throughout the pandemic, he’s been training in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and said even though there’s nothing to do, he’s still found a way to feel at home. As far as the actual game goes, no matter where you go, “basketball is pretty much basketball.”
Throughout his tenure in the NBA, Liggins got the chance to play with some of the world’s greatest basketball talents—Lebron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kevin Durant. We asked him what lessons he’s learned from these guys that he’s applied to his game and leadership style. He laughed and remained humble in how his game could reflect theirs, saying he’s more a role player compared to them. However, their leadership styles are what really stuck with him. “They’re very smart, very cerebral … and they lead their teams,” Liggins told us.
Liggins is joining a Lions team that just extended the contracts of two-time BBL MVP Justin Robinson and team captain Joe Ikhinmwin. Liggins is confident in what he can contribute, telling us he’s a hard-worker and a defensive player who brings a competitive edge. Throughout this downtime, he’s been training and he feels good about his skills. “I can score. I can pass. I can really play 1-3, and if need be, 4.” (Translation for new fans: point guard, shooting guard, small forward, and if need be, power forward.)
However, he’ll still looking to guys like Robinson and Ikhinmwin for leadership, telling us that he almost feels like a rookie in this situation. He sees this as his opportunity to play a full year overseas and really establish himself.
We’re excited to watch how far the Liggins and the London Lions go.