Stephon Xavier Marbury (born February 20, 1977 in Brooklyn, New York) is a professional basketball player, currently playing point guard with the New York Knicks. Nicknamed "Starbury", he has been heralded since his teenage years as the next great New York City point guard. He was highly touted in both high school and college as a future NBA superstar. After a successful freshman year playing for Georgia Tech, he declared his intention to jump to the NBA. He was selected fourth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1996 NBA Draft, then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the draft rights to Ray Allen and a future first-round pick. In his first season in the league, Marbury averaged 15.8 points and 7.8 assists per game and was named to the 1997 All-Rookie Team. Throughout his career, Marbury has played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, Phoenix Suns, and New York Knicks.
One of the premier point guards of the league, Marbury was an NBA All-Star in 2001 and 2003 and an All-NBA Third Team member in 2003. Known for his quickness, ball handling and inside scoring, he stands as only the second player in NBA history to have career averages of at least 20 points and 8 assists per game (Oscar Robertson was the first, with career averages of 25.7 points and 9.5 assists per game). However, at times he has been called a selfish player with a shoot-first, pass-second mentality, and many of the teams he has played for have been unsuccessful. In fact Marbury boldly proclaimed himself as the 'best point guard in the league' in the 2004-2005 season (a season in which the New York Knicks failed to make the playoffs). Hopes are high however that with new players next year the Knicks along with Marbury might flourish.
Marbury also played for the United States (Dream Team IV) in the 2004 Summer Olympics, becoming a member of the first United States team comprised of NBA players that has failed to return home with an Olympic Gold Medal. He returned with a Bronze Medal.
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Last updated: 08-26-2005 18:34:42
