The Marbury Experiment Goes Awry Again

Stephon Marbury is one of the most talented players in the NBA and has amassed excellent numbers in his illustrious and enigmatic 11+ year professional career. His 19.8 points and 7.9 assists per game put him in an exclusive category of NBA players to average 19+ points and eight assists per game, joining only Oscar Roberston, Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson. Despite his individual accomplishments, which include two NBA All-Star appearances, Marbury’s career is also marked by disappointment and underachievement.

After a heralded high school career and one year at Georgia Tech, Marbury was drafted fourth overall in 1996 by the Milwaukee Bucks who traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the rights to Ray Allen. In Minnesota, despite being part of a talented young team and two playoff appearances, Stephon was unwilling to share the spotlight with Kevin Garnett and Tom Gugliotta, and was traded to the New Jersey Nets. In two-and-a-half seasons in New Jersey, Marbury did not win much and was eventually moved to the Phoenix Suns for Jason Kidd. Marbury’s Phoenix teams made the playoffs in his first half-season, and managed only a first-round playoff loss. His next two seasons were again losing campaigns in which the Suns did not make the playoffs despite Marbury putting up his usual good stats (over 20 points and eight assist each year). In contrast, Jason Kidd quickly established himself as the Nets’ franchise anchor, and has led them to two NBA Finals and multiple playoff appearances since the trade.

New York Knicks GM Isiah Thomas engineered a trade to bring the Brooklyn native back to NY during the 2003-2004 season, and hope once again emerged that this gifted point guard could help lead a franchise to success. His tenure in New York, however, may be the worst of his career. With the Knicks, Marbury seems to be a malcontent, at times not knowing his role, and his performance on the court recently has suffered. Hall of Famers Lenny Wilkens, Larry Brown and Isiah Thomas have all failed to turn Marbury into the player that he should be given his tremendous skills.

What’s next for Star-bury? His approved or unapproved departure from the team notwithstanding, trading Marbury with nearly $40 million owed him over the next two years is difficult. Marbury is an exceptional talent but his leadership and defense, two anchors of the point guard position, have consistently been called into question.

Isiah Thomas may ultimately go down with Stephon Marbury, which might not be bad for the Knicks as now they can officially rebuild (a taboo for years) and cut ties with Thomas, Marbury and a few more of the overpaid and underperforming Knickerbockers.