Stephon Marbury was one of the most explosive and exciting NBA players of the late 1990s into the 2000s. The Coney Island native always had defenders on their toes and had a penchant for putting his head down and driving hard to the hole.
During much of his playing career in the NBA though, he was often scrutinized. He wasn’t seen on the outside as being a good teammate. At the end of his New Jersey Nets tenure, it was evident to all that he was extremely displeased to be there. There were some strange moments online involving Marbury. A homecoming of sorts to the New York Knicks didn’t result in any playoff series wins.
Marbury certainly redeemed his image and the narrative that he wasn’t a winner once he went overseas to play in China. He had so much success there that he never truly considered returning to the NBA. Recently, the now 47-year-old Marbury was a guest on Shaquille O’Neal’s podcast The Big Podcast with Shaq and O’Neal told Marbury he deserves the ultimate honor.
Shaq Wants To See Electric Point Guard In Hall Of Fame
Marbury A Deserving Hall Of Famer?
Sometimes when debating whether a player belongs in the Basketball Hall of Fame, people point to just their NBA career. It is not the NBA Hall of Fame though, and a player’s entire basketball career needs to be considered.
O’Neal told Marbury that he believes Marbury should get enshrined in Springfield for the Basketball Hall of Fame. It is partly because of something that Allen Iverson told O’Neal on his podcast. Iverson told O’Neal that the player that made him most nervous having to play was Marbury.
Allen Iverson tells Shaq that Stephon Marbury is the only player that struck fear into him in the NBA
Kobe and MJ also felt Starbury’s wrath as a hooper. Straight killer.
thebigpodwithshaq pic.twitter.com/nEjOxd6lzx
— Ball Don’t Stop (@balldontstop) February 23, 2024
Legendary Overall Playing Career
O’Neal also brought up that while Marbury never won a championship in the NBA, he was a great high school, college, and NBA player. Marbury played his high school ball at Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn. He was named Mr. Basketball for the State of New York as a senior in 1995. He then went on to play one year of college ball at Georgia Tech. Marbury was named a Third Team All-American. He entered the 1996 NBA Draft where he was selected with the fourth overall pick.
Marbury embarked on a 13-year NBA career as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Nets, Phoenix Suns, Knicks, and Boston Celtics. The 6-2 point guard posted career averages of 19.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.2 steals. He twice was named an All-Star and twice made the All-NBA Third Team.
It was in China where Marbury became an icon. His playing career there spanned from 2010-18 (has been a coach there since). While playing in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), Marbury was a member of three championship-winning teams. He became so beloved in China that he has a statue made of his likeness. In 2015, a museum was created in Beijing that is dedicated to his life. When the totality of Marbury’s basketball career is taken into account, there is surely a case that he belongs in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
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