With 85 percent of college graduates immediately moving back in with their parents following their time spent away in academia, it makes sense for 25-year-old Andy Rautins(notes), currently without a paying job, to slum for a bit in his old bedroom.

What isn't so typical is that Rautins had a job in his first year out of college. The Syracuse grad worked for the New York Knicks as a backup to the backup guard during his 2010-11 rookie year, playing in five games and learning the ropes. And because the NBA has locked out its players and Rautins is already out a month's paycheck, he's moved back in with his parents, hoping to re-remember where mom wants him to put the colander after it's dried.

From ESPN New York:

The Knicks guard has stayed in his parents' home outside of Syracuse during the lockout, sleeping in his childhood bedroom.

"It's nice to get some home cooked meals up here," Rautins, a former Syracuse star, said in a phone interview. "It's nice because it's a rare opportunity to spend time with family and friends. Normally, you'd been in a busy season by this time. But I've been trying to see the positives in [staying home] and there's a bunch so far. It's saving me a lot of money right now and I think that's a big concern for a lot of players."

The column goes on to note that, in the last year of a two-year deal, living in the greater New York City area was too prohibitive for Rautins, who isn't paying any rent with his parents. "No bills," either, according to author Ian Begley; but that's a bit much. You can't chip in for the Wi-Fi, Andy? You Twitter champion, you?

[Related: DaJuan Summers' cautionary tale about life overseas during lockout]

At least he's helping to contribute to keep his family's cereal fresh.

Rautins' tale reminds of the granddaddy of all starving player tales, regarding the time Malik Rose(notes) had to move back in with his parents during the 1998 labor negotiation.

From CBS:

In the NBA, if you share a bedroom with your 8-year-old brother and live with your mom, you're broke.

"This is it. I sleep on Rugrats pillowcases," Rose said as he stood in his temporary bedroom, trying to explain the brightly colored sheets and laughing in horror about what his peers might say."

At the time, Rose's story was more sad than it was funny. Even those who paid close attention to the NBA's fringes thought of him as a player who probably wouldn't make it to a third NBA season, so to see him struggling financially (as the CBS interview details) was hard to take. And yet, out of nowhere, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich handed him big minutes in his third season on a championship team once the lockout ended, and Rose went on to enjoy a lucrative career as a well-regarded veteran for another decade.

Rautins, according to the ESPN New York piece, is already seeking out an internship at the Manhattan law firm of his financial advisor; along with listening to his advisor as he prepares for his post-NBA career, while working his way through his two-year deal. Rautins earned $200,000 last year, and is set to make a lockout prorated take on just under $790K; if the Knicks pick up his non-guaranteed deal.

Until then? No girls allowed in your room after 11, Andy.

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