BACK IN CHINA WHERE HE GREW HIS LEGEND, MARBURY REFLECTS ON WHAT HE COULD'VE DONE BETTER IN CAREER

MACAU, China – Hindsight, definitely, is 20-20.

If he could turn back time, NBA icon Stephon Marbury would tell his younger self to “focus more,” the guard said.

The guard, during the Shoot More with Stephon Marbury event at the Venetian Expo Hall here, was presented with a Minnesota Timberwolves jersey.

The Timberwolves was his first NBA team, being drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the fourth overall selection of the 1996 draft before being shipped to Minnesota for the fifth overall pick in the same class, Ray Allen.

“If I were to meet my rookie self, I would tell him to play smarter, to be stronger and to make sure you focus more,” Marbury said in front of fans.

In his first year, he started 64 of his 67 games and averaged 15.8 points, 7.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game alongside Tom Gugliota and Kevin Garnett.

Minnesota was a team Marbury played for a couple of years, before he asked for a trade, ending his Timberwolves stint.

Marbury’s NBA career was a roller-coaster ride. After being traded to the New Jersey Nets in 1999, he was dealt anew in 2001 to the Phoenix Suns.

After three years with the team, he was traded once again to the New York Knicks, being the face of the franchise for a few years. However, he feuded with head coaches Larry Brown and Isiah Thomas.

After Thomas was booted out of the team, Marbury was bought out of his contract and joined the defending NBA champions Boston Celtics, where he saw his minutes and scoring dip.

Later, Marbury signed with numerous Chinese Basketball Association teams, but he cemented his legacy as a legend with the Beijing Ducks.

At Sunday's event, with hundreds of fans cheering on Marbury’s name, the now-48-year-old “Starbury” thanked his supporters.

“I’d like to thank you for all the support. It’s been nothing but love. I appreciate all the love,” he said.

The Shoot More with Stephon Marbury event was held in partnership with Alipay+. 

The NBA returned to China for the first time in six years with the Macau Games. The four-day preseason event will end Sunday evening as the Brooklyn Nets take on the Phoenix Suns.

Phoenix won Friday’s preseason contest, 132-127, in overtime.

2025-10-12T08:31:25Z