The Fall Off

In the summer of ‘97 the basketball company AND1 ran a full page advert in SLAM magazine featuring Stephon Marbury dribbling up court in an empty NBA arena. The tag line read: “First Round, 5:47pm. Four of the top five draft picks watched the playoffs on TV. The other was a little busy.”

Starbury had arrived. His pairing with fellow wunderkind Kevin Garnett pushed the Minnesota Timberwolves into the post season for the first time in its seven year history where he posted an un-rookie like 21 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds. Much like Derrick Rose this year, fans could sense he was on the cusp of great things. The future was full of promise.

Twelve years, three trades and a head tattoo later and that promise has been left wholly unfulfilled. Any hope of a career defined by success has long since evaporated. Instead, Marbury has acquired the reputation of a team-killer, a locker-room cancer, a selfish, divisive and emotionally challenged malcontent. The current fiasco in New York would suggest at least a few of the labels are justified.

Marbury had a chance to help build something special in Minnesota but instead chose to force a trade. After dealing him to New Jersey, Wolves GM Kevin McHale said: “Loyalty and some other words are long forgotten in our league.  It’s about money.  It’s about how many shots you can get, how much playing time you can get, how much recognition you can get, and then probably about winning.”

Since his departure from the Twin Cities Marbury has played for three teams, made a couple of postseason appearances and never advanced past the first round. Whether it was McHale, Garnett, Keith Van Horn or a string of others, his career has been one long fight with coaches, management and team-mates.

The prodigal son returned home to New York in 2004 with fanfare and expectation but Marbury made no attempt to break the trend. He battled with Lenny Wilkens, Don Chaney, Larry Brown and Isiah Thomas before butting heads with the no-nonsense Mike D’Antoni. Most recently he was suspended one game for refusing to play for the injury-depleted team, despite being on the Knicks’ books for more than $21m.

Blessed with a rare combination of strength, speed, court vision and skill, Marbury could have helped a team win a lot of games in the league. Instead, he made the decision early that this basketball thing was about what he could get, not what he could give. Now he finds himself a villain in his home town, unwanted by the team he grew up supporting.

But I’m sure Marbury isn’t losing too much sleep - the man’s still getting paid. After all, this is a business. Right Steph?