Isaiah Livers
Isaiah Livers, born on July 28, 1998, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, is a professional basketball player in the NBA, currently wearing jersey No. 18 for the Phoenix Suns. Standing at 1.98 m (6 feet 6 inches) and weighing 105 kg (232 pounds), he primarily plays as a power forward or small forward. Livers attended Kalamazoo Central High School in Michigan, where he was recognized as Michigan Mr. Basketball in 2017.
Livers had a notable collegiate career playing for the Michigan Wolverines from 2017 to 2021. Over his four years at Michigan, he won 100 games and was an All-Big Ten member. His collegiate statistics show consistent improvement, with his points per game (PPG) increasing from 3.4 in his freshman year to 13.1 in his senior year. He also demonstrated strong shooting percentages, with a field goal percentage (FG%) of 0.465, a 3-point percentage (3P%) of 0.412, and a free throw percentage (FT%) of 0.856. In his senior season (2020-2021), he averaged 13.1 points and six rebounds, earning him a selection to the Second Team All-Big Ten in 2021.
Following his successful collegiate career, Isaiah Livers was drafted in the 2021 NBA draft. He was selected in the second round as the 42nd overall pick by the Detroit Pistons. He played with the Pistons for three seasons before finding a new home in the NBA.
In recent news, Livers has faced significant challenges with hip injuries. In January 2024, he was acquired by the Washington Wizards from the Pistons, but he never made his debut for the Wizards due to a right hip injury, which ultimately sidelined him for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. The Wizards waived Livers in April 2024 to open up a roster spot. In October 2024, Livers (hip) underwent a hip resurfacing procedure on October 18, a consequence of two years of hip issues. In late 2024, he is a free agent, and his rehabilitation process is expected to last most of the 2024-25 campaign. Despite these setbacks, Isaiah Livers signed a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns and is listed as PHX Small Forward #12, with the team potentially designating him to the Valley Suns. His career highlights include being a Second Team All-Big Ten player in 2021 and Michigan Mr. Basketball in 2017.
