Stephon Marbury facts for kids
Marbury in 2009
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | February 20, 1977 New York City, New York, U.S. |
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| High school | Abraham Lincoln (Brooklyn, New York) |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Georgia Tech (1995–1996) | |||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4th overall | |||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1996–2018 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Coaching career | 2019–2023 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||
| As player: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–1999 | Minnesota Timberwolves | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2001 | New Jersey Nets | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2004 | Phoenix Suns | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2009 | New York Knicks | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Boston Celtics | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Foshan Dralions | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2017 | Beijing Ducks | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | Beijing Fly Dragons | |||||||||||||||||||
| As coach: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2023 | Beijing Royal Fighters | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career NBA statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Points | 16,297 (19.3 ppg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Assists | 6,471 (7.6 apg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Steals | 1,022 (1.2 spg) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Stephon Xavier Marbury (born February 20, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player. He also coached the Beijing Royal Fighters in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) from 2019 to 2023. After playing one year for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, he was chosen as the 4th player in the 1996 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. He was then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Marbury was a two-time All-Star and played in the NBA from 1996 to 2009. He then played in the CBA until he retired in 2018. In China, Marbury won three CBA championships and was named Finals MVP in 2015. He also played in three CBA All-Star Games.
Contents
Early Life and High School Basketball
Stephon Marbury is often called "Starbury," a nickname he got when he was young. He was born and grew up in Coney Island, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City. He was the sixth of seven children.
Stephon was a star player at Abraham Lincoln High School in New York City. In his senior year, he was named New York State Mr. Basketball. He averaged 27.4 points, 8.3 assists, and 3 steals per game. Many people thought he would be the next great point guard from New York City, following players like Mark Jackson and Kenny Anderson.
While in high school, he was featured in a book called The Last Shot. This book followed three older students and Marbury, who was a freshman at the time. He also played for the New York Gauchos, an AAU team.
College Basketball Journey
Becoming a Top Recruit
In 1995, Stephon Marbury was named a McDonald's All-American. This honor is given to the best high school basketball players in the country. Other future NBA All-Stars like Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were also on that list. Marbury was one of the top five recruits in the nation. He decided to play for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets under coach Bobby Cremins.
Playing for Georgia Tech
At Georgia Tech, Marbury became the starting point guard. He played alongside future NBA players Matt Harpring and Drew Barry. Marbury helped Georgia Tech achieve a 24–12 record. They reached the Regional Semi-final game of the NCAA tournament, where they lost to Cincinnati. During that season, Marbury averaged 18.9 points and 4.5 assists per game. He was named a Third Team All-American by the Associated Press. After this successful year, he decided to enter the 1996 NBA draft.
Professional Basketball Career
Minnesota Timberwolves (1996–1999)
The Milwaukee Bucks chose Stephon Marbury as the fourth overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft. However, he was quickly traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In his first season, Marbury averaged 15.8 points and 7.8 assists per game. He was named to the 1997 All-Rookie Team. He and second-year player Kevin Garnett led the Timberwolves to the NBA playoffs in both 1997 and 1998.
In 1999, Marbury's agent asked for a trade. Marbury said he wanted to be closer to his family. He was traded to the New Jersey Nets in a three-team deal.
New Jersey Nets (1999–2001)
While playing for the New Jersey Nets, Marbury became a true All-Star. He was named to the All-NBA 3rd Team in 2000. He was also chosen as a reserve for the 2001 All-Star Game, where he made two important three-pointers to help his team win. On February 13, 2001, Marbury scored a career-high 50 points in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite his great individual play, the Nets did not make the playoffs during his time there.
Phoenix Suns (2001–2004)
In 2001, Marbury was traded to the Phoenix Suns. He joined the team with Johnny Newman and Soumaila Samake. In return, the Nets received Jason Kidd and Chris Dudley. On November 30, 2002, Marbury scored 43 points, with 26 of those points coming in the fourth quarter. This helped the Suns win against the San Antonio Spurs. As a Sun, Marbury was selected for his second All-Star team and the All-NBA 3rd team in 2003. He teamed up with Rookie of the Year Amar'e Stoudemire and All-Star Shawn Marion. This trio led the team to the 2003 NBA playoffs, but the Suns lost to the Spurs in the first round.
New York Knicks (2004–2009)
On January 5, 2004, Marbury, Penny Hardaway, and Cezary Trybański were traded to the New York Knicks. This trade brought Marbury back to his hometown, as he grew up in New York and was a lifelong Knicks fan.
Marbury played for the U.S. basketball team in the 2004 Summer Olympics. This team was the first U.S. team made of NBA players that did not win the gold medal at the Olympics. They returned with a bronze medal. Marbury scored a U.S. team Olympic record of 31 points in a game against Spain. This record was later broken by Carmelo Anthony in 2012.
During the 2005–06 season, Marbury had disagreements with head coach Larry Brown. The Knicks were not playing well, and Marbury's public disagreements with his coach made him less popular. Larry Brown was fired at the end of the season. Isiah Thomas then became the coach. The Knicks improved slightly in the 2006–2007 season, but still finished with a losing record.
In the 2007–08 season, the Knicks struggled again. Marbury had another public disagreement, this time with coach Isiah Thomas. Marbury left the team briefly after learning he might not start games. There were rumors of tension between them. Fans often booed the Knicks, especially Marbury. The team continued to lose games. Trading Marbury was difficult because of his large contract. After an ankle surgery in February 2008, which the team reportedly thought was not needed, Isiah Thomas hinted that Marbury might not play for the Knicks again. However, in April 2008, Thomas was replaced as president and coach.
When Mike D'Antoni became the new coach, the Knicks signed Chris Duhon. This led to questions about Marbury's role. Marbury competed for the starting point guard position, but Duhon won it. Marbury later refused to play in a game, and on December 1, he was not allowed to attend Knicks practices or games.
Boston Celtics (2009)
On February 24, 2009, the Knicks and Marbury agreed to end his contract. He became a free agent two days later. Many thought Marbury would join the Boston Celtics, and he signed with them on February 27, 2009. In his first game, he scored 8 points and had 2 assists in 13 minutes. Marbury wore jersey number 8, as number 3 was retired for Dennis Johnson.
The Celtics offered Marbury a contract for the next season, but he did not accept it. He later announced he would take a year off from basketball to focus on his business.
Playing in China (2010–2018)
Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons (2010)
In January 2010, Marbury signed with the Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons in the Chinese Basketball Association. In his first game, he scored 15 points, had 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals. He averaged 22.9 points, 9.5 assists, and 2.6 steals in 15 games. Shanxi did not make the playoffs. Marbury played in the CBA All-Star game and won the MVP award for that game. He signed a three-year deal to stay with the Brave Dragons but left the team in December 2010.
Foshan Dralions (2010–2011)
In December 2010, Marbury joined the Foshan Dralions. He played in the 2011 CBA All-Star game again, but his team did not make the playoffs.
Beijing Ducks (2011–2017)
During the 2011–2012 season, Stephon Marbury led the Beijing Ducks to a great start with a 13–0 record. He played in the 2012 CBA All-Star game. Unlike previous years, his team made the playoffs. Marbury averaged 45 points per game in one playoff series. He led Beijing to their first ever CBA Finals against the 7-time champion Guangdong Southern Tigers. Marbury then led his Beijing Ducks Team to win the 2011–2012 CBA championship. After the championship, a statue of Marbury was put up at the MasterCard Center in Beijing in May 2012.
In the 2012–13 season, Marbury had 13 assists in a game, his highest with the Ducks. He also scored 32 points in another game. He was named the CBA Foreign MVP for the season.
On March 30, 2014, Marbury won his second CBA championship with the Beijing Ducks. On March 22, 2015, he won his third CBA championship and his first official CBA Finals MVP award.
On February 25, 2017, Marbury announced he would retire at the end of the 2017-18 CBA season. The Ducks officially parted ways with him on April 24, 2017.
Beijing Fly Dragons (2017–2018)
On July 19, 2017, Marbury announced that he would play his last season for the Beijing Fly Dragons. He hoped to finish his career with an NBA team afterward. However, on February 11, 2018, Marbury played his final game in the CBA, scoring 20 points in a win. He then announced his retirement from basketball.
Coaching Career
On June 24, 2019, Marbury became the head coach of the Beijing Royal Fighters in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He helped improve the team's performance.
On March 8, 2020, Marbury advised NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to stop the 2019–2020 season. He said, "the game won't be fun if people die." He asked Silver to make the "hard, easy decision." This request was made three days before the first NBA player tested positive for the coronavirus, and Silver then suspended the season.
Personal Life
Family Connections
Stephon's father, Don, passed away on December 2, 2007, during a game between the Knicks and the Phoenix Suns.
Stephon's brother, Zach, has played professional basketball in Venezuela. Marbury is also a cousin to former professional basketball player Sebastian Telfair and former NBA player Jamel Thomas.
Stephon and his wife Latasha were married on September 14, 2002. They divorced in 2023. He has three children: Xaviera, Stephon II, and Stephanie. On April 7, 2025, he married Chinese singer Wang Yuling (also known as Catina Mezereon) in Philadelphia.
Helping Others (Philanthropy)
In 2001, Marbury gave $250,000 from his Pepsi sponsorships to help people affected by the September 11 attacks.
In 2005, he donated between $500,000 and $1,000,000 to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.
In 2007, Marbury donated $4,000,000 to New York City. He gave $1,000,000 each to the NYPD (police), FDNY (firefighters), EMT (medical responders), and the New York City Teacher's Fund.
In 2014, Marbury was recognized as one of the Top 10 Model Citizens for Beijing. This was because of his dedication to the Beijing community and his charity work. He was the first international person to receive this honor from the Beijing government.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Marbury worked with a supplier in China. He helped sell millions of masks at cost to help first responders and hospital workers in New York City.
Starbury Fashion Line
In 2006, Marbury teamed up with Steve & Barry's to create a line of shoes and clothes called "Starbury". The shoes sold for a very low price of $14.98. Marbury said he wanted to offer fashionable basketball shoes at a fair price. This would help kids get cool shoes without them being too expensive or a target for theft.
Marbury was paid based on how many shoes were sold. Later, Steve & Barry's closed all its stores. After that, Marbury opened Starbury.com to sell his shoes and other products through Amazon.com. He also planned to open stores and a distribution center in China.
In Popular Culture
Marbury is featured on the cover of the video game NBA Ballers. He has been named to The Sporting News list of "Good Guys in Sports" three times.
In the movie He Got Game, a high school basketball star mentions Stephon Marbury as a great player from Coney Island who made it to the NBA. The high school in the movie is the same one Marbury attended.
In 1999, Marbury appeared in a music video for the song "Whatcha Gonna Do."
In 2007, Marbury wrote his first children's book with Marshall Dean. It was called The Adventures of Young Starbury: Practice Makes Perfect.
In July 2009, Marbury did a 24-hour live online broadcast. He answered questions from fans and talked openly about his feelings.
Marbury appeared in the 2014 musical I Am Marbury, which was based on his life story.
He starred in his own documentary, Stephon Marbury: Remade in China, released in 2016. This film shows his time with the New York Knicks and how he rediscovered his love for basketball in China.
In 2017, Marbury starred in his own movie called My Other Home. He won the Best New Actor award at the 14th China Movie Channel Media Awards for his role.
A documentary about Marbury, A Kid From Coney Island, was released in 2019.
Life in China
In 2015, Marbury received a Chinese "green card," which is a Permanent Resident ID Card. He was the fifth American basketball player to get a green card in China. He also earned the nickname Commissar Ma (simplified Chinese: 马政委; traditional Chinese: 馬政委). This nickname came from his role as a mentor to his teammates and younger players in China.
On November 15, 2023, Marbury gained residency in Hong Kong under a special talent scheme.
Sports Team Owner
On October 20, 2017, it was announced that Marbury had agreed to become the owner of the Beijing Lions in the China Arena Football League.
Images for kids
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Marbury with the Knicks
See also
In Spanish: Stephon Marbury para niños
- List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders
- List of All-Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball teams
