Results tagged “stephonmarbury”

Is it too early to start a "Bring Starbury Back to New York" campaign? Say what you will about how he basically spent his tenure with the Knicks acting as a cancer to the team; the man knows how to make a quality YouTube clip. From our previous experience with putting a camera in front of Stephon Marbury, we knew that there had to be a few gems coming out of the former All-Star's 24-hour stint doing a video podcast a couple weeks back. It may have taken a little tinkering, but sure enough a little dance interlude taken by Steph led to this:

Stephon Marbury isn't one for keeping his thoughts to himself. Even though his season is still going with the Boston Celtics as they fight to say alive against the Bulls, Marbury sat down and talked to the ESPN news show about just went wrong with his time with the Knicks. On the transition between the two teams, Marbury said, “You go from being in hell to being in heaven...It was like being in jail."

Thankfully, the Knicks are losing again which means they will miss the playoffs and qualify for the draft lottery. That’s very important for a team trying to rebuild because it is the last first round pick the Knicks will have before the vital summer of 2010. Think of it as the final blow of the Stephon Marbury trade. As part of that deal, Isiah Thomas sent the Knicks first round pick in 2006 to Phoenix, but he protected it, allowing the Knicks to keep the pick if it was a top-25 selection in that draft. The protection went down to top-24 in 2007 and is now top-22, but there is no protection in 2010 and the Utah Jazz, who acquired the pick from Phoenix, will have it, no matter how high the pick is.

Stephon Marbury hadn't played in an NBA game in over a year, but didn't show any signs of rust as he stepped in and immediately contributed during his first game as a Celtic last night in the team's 104-99 victory over the Pacers. Marbury came off the bench and scored 8 points in 13 minutes just hours after the press conference announcing his signing with Boston had been held. Starbury (now pronounced 'STAH-berry') was having such a good night that he didn't even say anything crazy after the game. He told reporters, "It went the way I was praying for it to go...The whole satisfaction of the night for me is that we won." New Coach Doc Rivers said he was surprised and impressed by how good Marbury's timing was after so much time off. When he first entered the game at the end of the first quarter, the Boston crowd gave him a standing ovation. Such a reaction probably isn't as likely Wednesday when he returns to the area to play another team he left with its fair share of headaches, the New Jersey Nets.

It's official: Ex-Knick Stephon Marbury has signed with the Boston Celtics. Team president Danny Ainge said in a statement, "We are very excited to have a player of Stephon's caliber joining our team. Our entire organization is confident in the belief that Stephon can play an important role in helping us to win another championship."

While most New Yorkers are excited to bid him adios, it's possible that they'll miss Stephon Marbury's off-court antics. Okay, maybe not the (alleged) sexual harassment or (obvious) sulking, but you must admit that his 2007 appearance on Mike'd Up (video above) is the stuff of legend.

It was just over five years ago that Marbury arrived in New York as the centerpiece of Isiah Thomas’ plan to turn New York into a contender. It worked for about half a season as Marbury got the Knicks to the playoffs, where the Nets promptly swept them. Amazingly, that was the best part of his career in New York. Sexual harassment allegations, sulking, suspensions and massive amounts of trouble soon followed.

Embattled Knicks guard Stephon Marbury seems to have come up with a new strategy in an attempt to elicit sympathy for his exile from the team since the dawn of the Mike D'Antoni era: present himself as an everyman fighting the injustices of billionaires trying to keep him down. While at a Lakers game last night, Marbury referred to the Knicks multiple times as a "billion-dollar company" and at one point said, "For me, what am I going to do against a billion-dollar company? I can't beat a billion-dollar company so I got to stand still and just wait." Marbury himself will make $21 million in a season that has yet to see him take the court. The Knicks still hope that they might be able to negotiate a deal to trade him before the March 1st deadline. He was at last night's game wearing the Laker colors of purple and gold, possibly to lure the Western powerhouse into a trade or possibly just to make it abundantly clear that he was rooting for a team that wasn't the Knicks.

Maybe Stephon Marbury willed his way into a home when he blogged earlier this week that the Starbury movement "won't stop." It appears that the World Champion Celtics are in fact interested in the Knicks exiled point guard as was reported yesterday. While the response of many to the talk that the Celtics would shake up their chemistry with someone as volatile as Marbury, ESPN gives an in-depth list of reasons why they would take him on, almost making Boston sound overconfident in their ability to make Stephon a team player with "ubuntu", the African word for unity that serves as a self-appointed label for their powerful team chemistry. While he says that being a backup in Boston is not his number one choice, Marbury tells the Post, "If the world champions have interest, how can I not? I would be honored to put on the white and green." Maybe the Celtics have the crown he feels is coming to him when he ended his blog with the Bible passage, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which GOD has promised to those who love him."

Will Starbury be headed to Newbury Street? ESPN's sources say that the Knicks point guard, told to stay away from the team since December 2, could be headed for a comeback with the Celtics. The Celtics apparently want to add some depth and Marbury would be relegated to a "backup"/ "secondary" role. Interestingly, "It appears that the biggest obstacle to such a move is Marbury actually securing a buyout from the Knicks in a timely fashion as opposed to reservations Boston might have about Marbury's impact on team chemistry." Ah, yes, a buyout from the Knicks—Marbury wants $21 million, while the team would rather pay less. This should get interesting!

Yesterday, the Post published a blog post from exiled Knick point guard Stephon Marbury, and after reading it, you might think he's either delusional or devious. He gives his side of the drama: "I sat on the bench for a whole month and didn't say one word. It wasn't easy because I love to play but that's the nature of the biz. Then they made a trade and needed 8 guys and coach told me he had a certain number of minutes. I was cool. My jersey was never hung in my locker though so I never refused to play. Things were never handled properly. Through it all, I respected their business position to go in another direction just like they have to respect my business position that I have a contract and obligated to pay me. It's the principle of the whole thing. It's really not about the money but it's about the money. Feel me?" Um, it's hard to be sympathetic when he wants his full $21 million for the year. But feel him for yourself by checking the post on the Post's website.

May the Knicks-Marbury insanity never, ever end! Though Stephon Marbury has been banned from Knicks games and practices, he still opted to see his team play against the Lakers in L.A. by buying a ticket for a baseline seat (video here). Perhaps the best coverage of this comes from the Daily News' Frank Isola, who quotes Marbury as telling reporters last night: "All I've got to do is get free. Once I get free, the team I'm going to go to, I think a lot of people will be shocked. All the people that say nobody wants me on their team... I'm all of these different things...Frank Isola said I'm a cancer ... I'm doing my thing though." And when asked if basketball was no longer his thing, the point guard simply said, "I'm doing my thang."

Stephon Marbury is officially a persona non grata to the Knicks: A meeting to discuss his future with the team ended with, the Daily News reports, "storming out" and the Knicks asking the point guard to stay away!

Stephon Marbury is not going to leave town quietly. With Nate Robinson hurt, Mike D’Antoni talked to Marbury about playing on Wednesday, supposedly even guaranteeing the disgruntled guard a starting spot for the rest of the season. Marbury refused and now, the Knicks have suspended Marbury for Saturday’s game and fined him 1/110th of his salary, or $189,460. Marbury is pleading for his release from the Knicks, but he also wants all of his $21 million. The Knicks don’t want to pay that and the only thing that seems certain at this point is that this will end badly.

• Knicks 122 Washington 117: Hopefully, Stephon Marbury enjoyed dressing for Friday’s game because that is probably the last time he will wear a Knicks’ uniform. After that debacle, the Knicks chose to dress Jerome James and while they still only had seven players, this time it resulted in a win. Quentin Richardson had 34 points with a huge night from the three-point line while Chris Duhon dished eleven assists. The Knicks can use their new players on Tuesday when LeBron James comes to town.
Continue reading "Last Night's Action: Seven Is Enough"

However, according to Mike D’Antoni, Marbury refused to play Friday leaving the Knicks with only seven players. Marbury had a different story and it will probably be impossible to ever figure out who is telling the truth, but for now it’s the same old Knicks, even if 2010 looks a whole lot better.

With no in-game action to discuss, you know Stephon Marbury is bound to lob choice sound bites to the press on a regular basis. Yesterday he told reporters that he loves the franchise so much that "one day I might be able to buy the New York Knicks." That might be the only way for Marbury to find playing time with his hometown squad as he remains at a stalemate with the team as he continues to sit on the sidelines. Allan Houston, who was just named assistant to the President, is attempting to facilitate the situation as it's difficult to negotiate a potential buyout of his contract since Marbury doesn't have an agent. Marbury's latest idea to get in workouts at his alma mater Lincoln High was shot down by the union and in the meantime he's stopped scrimmaging to give more time to the younger players who are suiting up. He said, "It makes more sense...I'm not playing. I can't smell the court."

On Election Day, vote for the Knicks as the most naïve organization in sports. The Knicks met with Stephon Marbury on Monday and told him they are not going to play him or even dress him for games unless someone gets hurt. Amazingly, Knicks’ management seems to think this problem will now be resolved. Mike D’Antoni told the media, "Pretty soon that story is not going to be fun to read because it is going to be the same old story. You are going to be beating a dead horse.”

It’s time for the Knicks to take a deep breath, close their eyes and cut Stephon Marbury. Yes, this will entail putting him though waivers and then eating his almost $22 million salary, but they have no other choice.

In the Knicks' 116-87 loss last night to the 76ers, Stephon Marbury once again found himself on the bench and not in action throughout the course of the game. But unlike the season opener, Marbury was prepped for his bench time by Coach Mike D'Antoni and supported the team while in street clothes. Now the question remains: what the heck do the Knicks do with him?

76ers 116, Knicks 87: The Knicks aren't the only team in the Atlantic Division that can put up the points. Philadelphia held New York to an ugly 33% from the field and Mike D'Antoni wasn't able to find a single player on his bench to give the team a spark, despite trying except Eddy Curry. The 76ers also out rebounded the Knicks 61-43 and forced the Knicks into taking 28 three pointers, which they only made 7 of. Elton Brand led Philly, picking up a double-double on 24 points and 14 rebounds.

We know the Knicks will be different, but will they be any better? Then again, how could they be any worse? The coach is new, the players are the same, but there is a different vibe to the team that ended last year at 23-59. Eddy Curry isn’t a part of the rotation and Stephon Marbury will be coming off the bench. Chris Duhon has been brought in to run the point and Jared Jeffries will be at center when he is healthy again. The new coach has brought a new attitude and a fast-paced offense to MSG and it should make for some more entertaining basketball.

Doc Rivers, former Knicks player (1992-1994) and now coach of the champion Boston Celtics, was optimistic about his former team when the NY Times' William C. Rhoden asked him if he thought there was hope for the Knicks. Rivers said, "Absolutely. I was a part of it when the Knicks were good. I was there. There was no better feeling as a player than playing in that city when you’re winning. It was a phenomenal feeling, with that whole ‘Go New York, go New York, go.’ The city was going nuts. That will return. I don’t know what day, what year, but it’s going to return.” Rhoden also noticed that the Celtics' practice camp was all about team building, whereas the Knicks camp was all about Stephon Marbury (as usual).

As the Knicks open camp at Skidmore College today, the focus is clearly on Stephon Marbury and what the Knicks will do with him. For his part, Marbury is “okay” if the team wants to cut him, "I have no problem with playing someplace else. Everyone knows I love New York, but now it's different because the business part of it is coming into play. If I'm not wanted here, then let me go." (Gee, we'd be “okay” too if someone wanted to cut us, but still had to pay our $21 million) It is clear that Marbury won’t take a buyout of his deal for less than full value, so what are the Knicks to do? As much as cutting him might make them feel better and improve team morale, New York should let Marbury play and hopefully play well. Expiring contracts have huge value in the NBA and somebody will want Marbury’s, it’s just unclear if the Knicks can wait that long.

A judge approved for Steve & Barry's, the cheap-n-chic retail chain which faced bankruptcy earlier this summer, to be acquired by two investments firms for $163 million. Newsday reports the new group, BHY S&B Holdings LLC, made up of Bay Harbor Management and York Capital (with Steve Shore and Barry Prevor as investors), will "Steve & Barry's merchandise inventories, store leases and all of Steve & Barry's intellectual property rights, including its celebrity and brand licenses." Though Sarah Jessica Parker is still on board, Stephon Marbury claims Steve & Barry's still owes him $2 million in licensing fees--plus more in roylaties--for the Starbury brand. But Newsday points out, "Under the bankruptcy proceedings, the new owners would owe Starbury nothing."

A reader pointed out that though the Post and NY Times mentioned that Knicks captain Stephon Marbury had a new tattoo on the left side of his head, neither publication bothered to bless the public with an image of this new addition.

If the first free agent move the Knicks made this off season is any indication, Stephon Marbury is on the way out of his hometown. The Knicks verbally agreed to a two-year deal with the former Chicago Bulls point guard Chris Duhon. While the deal cannot officially be announced until Wednesday when free agent contracts can first be signed, it's expected that Duhon will get the full mid-level exception of an estimated $5.8 million/year. If the agreement alone wasn't enough to convince people that Marbury's time in New York is over, Duhon's agent Kevin Bradbury said, "we've been given all assurances that they're not bringing Chris here to sit on the bench." The 25 year-old Duhon averaged 6.9 points and 4.5 assists in his four seasons with the Bulls.

Mike D’Antoni was introduced as the new Knicks coach at MSG today, simply stating he was excited to be here before answering questions from the press. D’Antoni defended his reputation as a coach who didn’t emphasize defense saying that his teams averaged 58 wins over the past four years which means “our team was the best defensive club on the floor 58 nights a year”. He went out of his way to praise Donnie Walsh a number of times and Walsh reciprocated saying, “He can adjust his style to the personnel. We will work together to build this team to be competitive as quickly as possible.”

After a long absence, Stephon Marbury finally showed up at Madison Square Garden last night, but the circumstances of his absence remain a mystery. “I ain’t got no comment to that,” was Marbury’s response when asked if Isiah had told him to stay away from the team. Marbury did add that he was happy to be “able” to be on the bench and support his teammates. Was that a reference to the ban or simply an acknowledgment that he was injured and therefore couldn’t attend games?

The Knicks clinched a losing record for the season with their 100-88 defeat Monday, but what happened off the court was much more interesting. Stephon Marbury, the pariah point guard who was reportedly banned from MSG, was supposed to show up tonight. At the morning shootaround Isiah told reporters, “We expect him here tonight,” when discussing Marbury. And, true to form, Marbury made his coach look bad again by not showing up at all.