Stephon Marbury pulls a Suzuki 4x4 into a parking lot in downtown Atlanta. Milwaukee Bucks, 1st round (4th pick, 4th overall), 1996 NBA Draft, More Stephon Marbury pages at Sports Reference. But I didnt think at first that I would be writing some expos of the exploitation in basketball. Both an excellent distributor and a lethal scorer, his career stat line deserves a Hall of Fame node according to many fans and analysts. us, Relatives: CousinsSebastianTelfair, JamelThomas, College: [32], On July 19, 2017, Marbury announced that for his last season, he would play for the Beijing Fly Dragons. He attended elementary school, PS 329. yelling, "Jesus, that's how!" Tchaka had two unhappy seasons at Seton Hall before a car accident kneecapped his basketball future; when Frey caught up with him, Tchaka was living in Las Vegas with his fiance, doing electrical work for $8.50 an hour. Johnson and I loop back toward Nathans Hot Dogs now, down Coney Islands famous boardwalk, which is empty in the dead of winter. [54] He would later admit that he was depressed and suicidal at the time. Stephon Marbury averaged 19.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. Stephon Marbury, future NBA All-Star, grabbed his diploma in June, 1995, during a brief ceremony at Abraham Lincoln High, an oversized, yellow-brick school off Ocean Parkway in Coney Island. SLAM founder Dennis Page recently reconnected with basketball legend Stephon Marbury, who was featured in the very first issue of the magazine in 1994. . As each Marbury brother has failed to stick, his professional aspirations have slid down to the next, until all have accumulated in the catch basin that is Stephon." There is also Zach Marbury, Stephon's younger brother, who had a near-shot at the NBA, but ended up playing pro ball in Venezuela. He takes me back to a time described in the book: taking the SATs, trying to get your grades together, playing your balls off, and hoping the scholarship offers will follow. Dad was a track star, but his sons played the city game: basketball. Home; Tickets; Schedule. I had my outfits and everything. Im gonna come every day, Im gonna come to class, that was something new, Frey says of spending so much time with them. Stephon Marbury and Kevin Garnett. Mature beyond his years, he dreams of using basketball to pay for a degree in nursing. His ex-fiance, the mother of his 12-year-old son, still lives in Las Vegas. the time he also had another recent death in his family. We got close. In January 1999, Frey writes in the postscript, in an incident that many of his friends say they believe was intentional, he was walking along some train tracks next to the beach in San Clemente, listening to his Walkman, when he was struck from behind by an Amtrak passenger train. He has played in the NBA from 1996 to 2009 representing New Jersey Nets, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and Boston Celtics. I always wanted for people to feel like they had options., The book still feels alive to Johnson. His aunt, Slowly, I realized there was this whole universe it was high-stakes, really huge, and it was eye-opening. Houses Purchase, New York house Cars Stephons older brothers were as talented as anyone who ever killed it on the Coney Island courts, yet their careers all flamed out before they fulfilled their potential.5And then you begin to understand the pressure on Stephon and any other young talent shouldering the burden of nearly impossible expectations. He later announced that he would take a year off from basketball to attend to his business interests. Lee used Marbury, a Coney Island high school phenom, as his muse for the 1998 film "He Got Game," which focused on a . It might seem unfair to call out Marbury building something like a community center means navigating city bureaucracies and managing a staff to run the place. Throughout the book, Frey captures the beauty of freewheeling kids discovering the heights of their abilities. Norman was the consummate point guard: a penetrator and pinpoint passer. This request was made three days before the first NBA player tested positive for the coronavirus and Silver suspended the season. 5 pick (Ray Allen) and a future first-round selection. It seems like the couple has genuinely since moved on. Johnson recalls past games, both here and at the real Garden, expertly pantomiming spin moves and killer crossovers and 360 layups. It was written for them., Frey says he doesnt blame Johnson for feeling this way. I was so looking forward to doing that, he says. That was a big game. Academic excellence was once standard at Lincoln. Donnie (``Sky) graduated from high school in 82, but his grades required rehabilitation at two junior colleges. It was my first book, Frey recalls. A Kid From Coney Island is not Stephon Starbury Marburys only appearance on the big screen, it was preceded by My Other Home, an autobiographical film about his life in China and the CBA, but, the former is the one that puts forth his story as truthfully and as simply as possible. It was about pride and hope represented singularly, in Coney Island, by basketball. In recent years, its best-known grads were basketball players named Marbury. He treated Frey like a brother, making sure he felt safe, taking him around the neighborhood, introducing him to everyone. The point guard had testified in court during the New York Knicks sexual harassment lawsuit that he had consensually bedded an intern after a group trip to a strip club back in 2005. A very good guy. If Id spoken to him five or 10 years earlier, its possible this stuff wouldnt roll off the tongue so breezily. ``Its a tremendous pressure on him.. Do you have a blog? Its down to Stephon now, as the heralded Georgia Tech freshman takes his familys best shot at basketballs brass ring. Thats the kind of claustrophobic environment that led Darryle to believe that without a scholarship, his life was effectively over. However, this proved difficult for the Knicks to accomplish, in view of the two years and approximately $42million remaining under his contract with the Knicks. You early on the schedule! We present them here for purely educational purposes. Stephon Marbury Stats, News, Bio | ESPN Its classics David Halberstams The Breaks of the Game, John Feinsteins A Season on the Brink, Buzz Bissingers Friday Night Lights are many. A New York I didnt forget about you. Stephon Marbury's worrying 24-hour livestream. The problem for gifted ballplayers like Corey and Darryle and Tchaka, however, was that the game felt like the only path. in 1996, by Milwaukee, which immediately traded him to. I could take [Knicks point guard Pablo] Prigionis spot! Stephon Marbury, died Sunday night during the team's home loss to However, not all has been well and good for the couple. And Darryle had torn up juco and Division II schools before losing his way. By Stephon's fifth birthday, brother Donnie's deadly jumper seemed to be his ticket out. And then there are the Marburys. But I never defended it, and I didnt want to. He also noted, in terms of his professional development and maturity, he was a step ahead of his peers thanks to his older brothers. All rights reserved. Three tractor trailers of sneakers and T-shirts is cool, but can you build a community center? They let him into their homes. He recalls how the neighborhood guys used to make Steph play against a man named Key Free; he was the same size as Stephon, but he used to go hard, making it impossible for Marbury to slack, even in pickup games. Before he hangs up, I ask for a favorite basketball memory, and he quickly obliges: It was against Grady High School, Lincolns rival. Marbury's father dies during Knicks' loss to Suns AP. Over his career, Marbury averaged 19.3 points, 7.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while making two All-Star teams. Johnson knows the lure of the NBA is undeniable. As each Marbury brother has failed to stick, his professional aspirations have slid down to the next, until all have accumulated in the catch basin that is Stephon. There is also Zach Marbury, Stephons younger brother, who had a near-shot at the NBA, but ended up playing pro ball in Venezuela. I have a credential from basketball. And when I start to ask if he still thinks about the NBA, he cuts me off: Of course! But that a reporter would want to hang out actually wasnt alien., On an average day, Frey would arrive at Lincoln around 2:30 p.m., between the kids last class and the end of the teams mandatory study hall. Stephon Marbury Stats and news - NBA stats and news on New York Knicks Guard Stephon Marbury. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Stephon Marbury 'tired' with retirement looming after China Basketball Disconnected from his wife and young son in California, he ended up homeless. ``Hes seen his brothers, all successful in different ways, all great ballplayers, but they didnt make it to the NBA, says Lou DAlmeida, a close family friend. Hed end up spending a season with Abraham Lincoln High Schools storied basketball program and meeting a quartet of marvelous, nearly doomed teenagers including a 14-year-old phenom named Stephon Marbury. He has three children: Xaviera, Stephon II, and Stephanie. Over the years, they have been involved in some extremely public infidelity scandals. Founded in 1930, its alumni included author Joseph Heller, playwright Arthur Miller and three Nobel Prize physicists. Stephon Marbury, whose aunt recently died, scored 21 points Johnsons point, though, isnt really directed at Coney Islands proud sons. All rights reserved. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. In the book, Don Marbury Sr. is a controversial figure: In exchange for access to his son, he requests compensation. Marbury last played in the NBA during the 2008-09 season. ``He was the anointed one since he was a young boy, the one to make it to the NBA. She even confirmed that she tried all that she could to prevent his image from being tarnished. Stephon Marbury is a retired professional basketball player who has a net worth of $60 million. [35], On March 8, 2020, Marbury warned NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to stop the 20192020 season, saying, "the game won't be fun if people die." Zach has played basketball professionally in Venezuela, though, and they are also the cousins of professional basketball player Sebastian Telfair and of former NBA journeyman Jamel Thomas. The Marbury Brothers. He transferred to Texas A&M, led the Southwest Conference in scoring, but was passed over by the pros. Even though theyve lost touch, hes proud of his cousin Stephon, and proud of how this community made Stephon stronger. Put some money in so that guys wont have it as hard as you? Escaping Coney Island can be a matter of life and death. Failures, neighbors whisper, even though they were all college men. Navigation Toggle NBA. Stephon Marbury | New York Post During the 2001 offseason, the Nets traded Marbury to the Suns for Jason Kidd and Chris Dudley. And what revealed itself was how the hope of a future engineered by basketball a college scholarship and maybe a crack at the NBA could feel like a chest-crushing weight. [43], In 2014, Marbury was named one of the Top 10 Model Citizens for Beijing due to his commitment to the Beijing community and the charity work he provided for it. [25][26], Writing in the state-run China Daily, Marbury credited the success in his life to Chinese culture which he described as one "filled with love, compassion, and care".[27]. Grady was running a furious full-court press that game. I spent hundreds of hours for every 30 minutes of material I ended up using. The pair have gotten extremely private about their personal lives now, but the fact that they are still together is a testament to how working together can help maintain a relationship for a long time. During the lockout-shortened 1999 season, Marbury's agent, David Falk, demanded a trade. Other reports said he wanted to go to a market that would provide more endorsement opportunities, while others suggested that Marbury genuinely disliked Minnesota and was jealous of Kevin Garnett's new contract. In the Spike Lee movie He Got Game, fictional Brooklyn high school star Jesus Shuttlesworth (played by Ray Allen) mentions Stephon Marbury as one of the great New York City legends to make it out of Coney Island to the NBA. Welcome to the Far Eastern Conference | GQ Of course! Great, lets talk. Corey dreamed about a future in the arts and plotted to use the book to launch his career in publishing. During the 200506 season Marbury feuded with head coach Larry Brown. NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury reigning big baskets and going toe-to-toe against one of the best to ever lace up. During his 15-season NBA career, Stephon Marbury proved to be one of the best point guards of the late 90s and early 2000s. Yet many still dont know much about Marbury as a person (outside of some prior drama). I was ready to go! And its not like Im lost somewhere, hooked on drugs. Their father Patrick McDonald had worked as a shift manager at the 20,000-employee G.P. He then attempts to set up a contract that would share profits from the book with the kids, but is ultimately blocked by NCAA regulations on amateur athletes. [46] The reason for doing so, he stated at the time, was to provide kids a way to get fashionable basketball shoes for a reasonable price, and avoid the problem of having expensive shoes that are the target of theft. Father of Marbury dies during Suns-Knicks game, Morant to miss two games after video with gun, QB Young 5-10 1/8, 204 pounds at NFL combine, Horns' Robinson: Versatility worthy of early pick, Edey leads Wooden finalists; Bama's Miller off list, Chase Elliott out indefinitely after tibia surgery, Jays' Guerrero to miss WBC with inflamed knee, Sources: Patriots tell QB Hoyer he's being cut, Ledecky sees 9-year win streak in U.S. snapped, Inside the long-awaited return of Jon Jones and his quest for heavyweight glory, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? Dont worry, we got our plans. ``Not quite as strong as Eric, says scout Konchalski. For Freys subjects, it seemed, the only way forward was through the courts. Corey missed 700 on the SAT by 10 points, then washed out of a Texas junior college; he was back in Coney Island, still an aspiring writer. But that doesnt mean hes not plugging away just like when he was working toward that NBA dream. Eventually, he made his way to. 4,822 views Aug 25, 2017 29 Dislike Share Save Hoop Story 45 subscribers Having Steph as a brother was a burden for Zach Marbury:. On March 30, 2014, Marbury won a second CBA championship with the Beijing Ducks. 2022-23 Season Schedule; League Pass Schedule; Zach Marbury, Stephon Marbury's little brother, keeps it 100! And Im thinking, thank God for those workouts.. The point guard recently opened up in a tell-all interview with the New Yorker. In June 2019, Marbury was named the head coach of the Beijing Royal Fightersa position he currently still holds. Stephon Marbury on 'NYC Point Gods' documentary & the influence his A neighborhood obsessed with basketball and dangerously little room to imagine much else. I also introduced Corey and Tchaka to Arthur Agee, and for a while there was some talk about all three of them starting a line of sports apparel But over time, after the book had been out for a while, I got fewer and fewer requests for interviews, and I can imagine that that was disappointing for Corey.. In 1999, Marbury, alongside fellow former Georgia Tech point guard Kenny Anderson, appeared in the video for Big Pun's single "Whatcha Gonna Do" which was produced by Juju of The Beatnuts. Hed hoped to travel around the country, meeting with high school students from neighborhoods not much different from Coney Island, telling his story and guiding others. Find out more. Stephon Marbury brothers served as inspiration In his interview with the New Yorker, Marbury fielded a question about what it was like to deal with his fame as a talented high school player in New York City. Lets recap Marburys career and his comments about his brothers. He often finds himself praising Freys achievements in The Last Shot while, almost in the same breath, wishing it had captured an even deeper portrait of these kids thoughts why were they doing what they were doing?. Primary Menu Sections. Marbury later participated in the CBA All-Star match between the North and the South teams, contributing 30 points and 10 assists for the North team. I just wanted to spend a year in a neighborhood with some kids.. At Georgia Tech, Marbury took over the starting point guard role left vacant with Travis Best's departure. Starbury, Coney Islands Finest, Steph are nicknames for Stephon Marbury. . We dont have to tell anybody., Later, he jokes, I could go play on a [pro] team right now. Zach Marbury, Stephon's Brother, Will Play in Venezuela - The New York [58] He also earned the nickname Commissar Ma (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ) for his role as a mentor to the teammates and younger players while playing in China. And I dont have a problem discussing or talking about it. Stephon Marbury's Family/Marriage - The Cinemaholic Which non-quarterback group will define each top-25 team's season? My allegiance as a reporter was to tell the truth, especially when youre writing as intimately as I was writing about these kids.