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One of the game's most dynamic talents has embraced his move to the Valley of the Sun. The Phoenix Suns acquired the then 24-year-old playmaker Stephon Marbury from the New Jersey Nets in a blockbuster trade involving Jason Kidd on July 18, 2001... At 6-2, 180 lbs., Marbury, a.k.a. "Starbury," is regarded as one of the most explosive guards in the NBA and is a fearless scorer who can carry a team down the stretch... Along with Oscar Robertson, is the only player in league history with career averages of 20 points (20.5) and 8.0 assists (8.2) entering the 2003-04 season and Robertson had 25.7 ppg, 9.5 apg... He is a master at breaking down the defense with his lightning quick first step and his range extends to the three-point line (career .315 3PT FG)... In only his second season in Phoenix, Starbury carried the Suns to the postseason and was the only player in the NBA ranked in the top 12 in points (12th, 22.3) and assists (4th, 8.1)... Marbury, who grew up in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, NY, home to the world famous Nathan's restaurant and Astroland amusement park, has long been regarded as a future NBA superstar. He was named the 1995 High School Basketball Player of the Year, and after just one season at Georgia Tech elected to turn pro... At 19 years of age, he was picked fourth in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, who promptly traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a deal for the No. 5 overall pick, Ray Allen... Marbury enjoyed a stellar rookie season leading the T-Wolves to their first-ever postseason appearance and finished second behind Allen Iverson in voting for Rookie of the Year honors... The Timberwolves, feeling it was unlikely that they could retain Marbury once he became a free agent in the
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summer of 1999, traded him to New Jersey on March 11, 1999, in a three-team deal that also involved Milwaukee... As a member of the Nets, he was named to the 1999-2000 All-NBA Third Team... Marbury, who made his first All-Star appearance in 2001, increased his scoring average in each of his five NBA seasons and his improved his field goal percentage in his first six seasons.
2002-03:
Was only player in the NBA ranked in top 12 in points (12th, 22.3) and assists (4th, 8.1)... With his 22.3 points average he is the first Suns player with back-to-back 20-point seasons since Charles Barkley (23.2 in 1995-96, 23.0 in 1994-95)... Was 3rd in the NBA for percentage of team's offense with his points and assists accounting for 40.3% of Phoenix's points... Tallied 10 or more points in the fourth quarter 17 times this season, third-most in the NBA... Played in 81 games, missing only the season opener at Seattle due to NBA suspension... Made second All-Star appearance and had 4 points, 6 assists in 15 mins... Named Western Conference Player of the Week twice during the season (Jan. 13 and Dec. 1) for his third as a Sun and fifth in career... Scored 30-plus points 19 times this season and 40-plus points 5 times (10 in career)... Scored 20-plus points 47 times, including 36 of last 49 games... Recorded 23 double-doubles with 13 games of 20 points, 10 assists and 4 games with 30-plus points and 10-plus assists... Paced squad in scoring 40 times and had team high in assists 71 times... Had fifth 40-point game of season with 40 points (15-30 FG, 10-10 FT) at Lakers on April 6 along with 8 rebounds, 8 assists... Had 43 points vs. San Antonio on Nov. 29 and set Suns, AWA records for points in a quarter with 26 points (11-15 FG) in fourth period and AWA mark with 34 second-half points. The 43 points was his high as a Sun and most points since a career-high 50 points on Feb. 13, 2001 against the Lakers... Tied his high as a Sun with 43 points (15-27 FG, 12-14 FT) vs. New York on Feb. 14... Had most assists as a Sun with 15 at Clippers on Jan. 31 and added career-high 5 steals... Hit game-winning shot for third time this season (fifth as a Sun) on three-point play with 1.2 seconds left at Memphis on March 26 and finished with 23 points... Posted 35 points (12-14 FG, 6-6 3FG) and 13 assists at San Antonio on March 4 in 48 mins... Hit 40-point mark for fourth time this eason with 41 points (14-21 FG, 5-6 3FG) at Milwaukee on Feb. 26 with Suns season high 35 points in second half (17 in fourth quarter)... Had 32 points and set career, Suns season highs with 16 FTM (17 FTA) vs. Golden State on Feb. 1... Had 33 points (22 in second half, 14 in fourth quarter) vs. Lakers on Jan. 29 and also had 10 assists... Had 41 points (26 in second half) vs. Dallas on Jan. 17 and dished out 11 assists... Hit long three-pointer off glass with :03.0 left at San Antonio on Jan. 14 to send game to overtime and had 29 points, season-high 8 rebounds... Scored 38 points vs. Utah on Jan. 12 with 22 points in second half... Nailed fourth game-winning shot as a Sun on off-balance runner with :00.5 left vs. Seattle on Dec. 23 on his only points of the second half... Set franchise record with 6 three-pointers in second half and tallied 39 points at Sacramento on Nov. 22 with 31 points (6-8 3FG) in second half... Won game with 6.3 seconds left vs. Houston on Nov. 15 and finished with 20 points, 11 assists. 2003 PLAYOFFS: Paced the Suns with 22.0 points and 6.8 assists in six postseason games versus the Spurs... Marbury went the length of the court and banked in a three-pointer at the buzzer at the end of overtime for a 96-95 win in Game 1 at the SBC Center. Marbury finished with a game-high 26 points... In Game 2, Marbury finished with career playoff highs of 32 points and 10 rebounds in a loss... Marbury finished with 18 points in a Game 4 victory at America West Arena, but suffered a shoulder "stinger" injury in a third quarter collision with Spurs forward Malik Rose that bothered him the rest of the series.
2001-02:
Finished his first season with Phoenix and became the first Sun to average 20 points in a season since 1996-97 when Kevin Johnson had 20.2 points... Increased his shooting percentage in each of his six NBA seasons with a personal-best .442 this season... Tied for 19th in the NBA in scoring (20.4), tied for 6th in assists (8.1) and 15th in minutes (38.9)... Posted the top six scoring efforts for the Suns this season... Had 20 or more points in 46 games (nine with 30-plus points)... Recorded 29 double-doubles compared to 11 in 2000-01... Paced club in assists 71 times with 10-plus assists 30 times... Was only Sun to appear in all 82 games... Named Western Conference Player of the Week on Dec. 3 after leading Suns to 4-0 week.. Tallied Suns season-high 36 points (14-24 FG) vs. San Antonio on Feb. 24 and added seven rebounds, seven assists… Hit for 35 points, 10 assists at San Antonio on Feb. 26 with 14 points in fourth quarter... Dished out season-high 14 assists vs. Cleveland on March 25... Matched season-high 14 assists vs. Clippers on March 29… Hit game-winning shot for second time this season on three-pointer with 4.5 seconds left in OT to beat Minnesota on Jan. 18... Hit game-winning shot with 2.0 seconds left vs. Boston on Dec. 27.
2000-01:
Marbury had a career season in which he averaged a personal-high 23.9 points (10th in NBA), to go with 7.6 assists (tied for 8th), and shot .441 from the field... He was the only player to rank in the top 10 in points and assists (tied for eighth with 7.6 assists)... In his first All-Star appearance Marbury hit two three-pointers, including the game-winner, in the final minute to lead the East to victory after a 22-point deficit. On the night, he finished with 12 points and four assists... He scored 30 or more points in 19 games and tallied double figures in 66 of his 67 games played ... Marbury recorded 11 double-doubles and his first career triple-double... He had surgery on March 29 to repair a ruptured tendon in his left pinkie and missed the final nine games of the season... Marbury scored a career-high 50 points vs. the Lakers on Feb. 13, shooting 17-29 from the field, 4-8 from three-point range, and handing out 12 assists in 47 minutes... He posted his first career triple-double with 33 points, 12 assists and a career-high 11 rebounds vs. Chicago on Jan. 20... Stephon totaled 35 points, shooting 10-19 from the field (4-7 behind the arc), and set a season-high with 14 assists vs. Toronto on Feb. 21... Marbury erupted for 38 points on 14-25 shooting, including 4-8 from long range, passed out nine assists and had four steals vs. San Antonio on Feb. 8... Against Detroit on Jan. 31, Marbury tied his career-high with five steals vs. Detroit... He scored 37 points, shooting 12-22 from the field including 4-7 from long range vs. Miami on Dec. 23... The point guard missed four games (Dec. 5 – Dec. 10) due to a sprained left ankle... On Nov. 22 at America West Arena he scored 30 points and recorded nine assists against the Suns... Marbury was named NBA Player of the Week on Nov. 13, two days after lighting up Gary Payton and the Sonics for 41 points (17-26 FG) in a Nets' victory. He averaged 34.7 points and 9.0 assists in three games that week, and was leading the league in scoring at 29.0 points per game... Tallied 33 points in back-to-back games against Charlotte on Nov. 4 and at Chicago on Nov. 3.
1999-2000:
Although the Nets missed the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons, Marbury was selected to the 1999-2000 All-NBA Third Team and was the only member of the All-NBA teams who did not participate in postseason play... His season averages included 22.2 points, 8.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 38.9 minutes per game. Along with Payton he was the only NBA player to rank in the top 15 in both points and assists... He had a string of 75 double-digit scoring games in a row... Marbury had 35 points in a 99-92 OT loss in Houston on March 4 ... He registered 34 points and 11 assists in a 106-101 loss in Utah on Feb. 28... On Feb. 20 Marbury celebrated his 23rd birthday with 39 points in his first visit back to Minnesota since being traded... He logged 30 points (10-12 FG) and 10 assists in a 131-113 win over Boston on Feb. 8... He netted a then career-high 42 points (3-4 3FG, 11-12 FT) and dished nine assists in a 108-106 loss at Vancouver on Jan. 27... Marbury tallied 34 points and a season-high 15 assists in a 122-120 win over Detroit on Jan. 20. One week later, he recorded 31 points and nine assists in a 101-96 loss in Philadelphia on Jan. 17... The playmaker nearly captured his first career triple-double with 21 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds in a 102-92 win over Orlando on Dec. 30... Marbury totaled a game-high 35 points (6-8 3FG) and dished seven assists in a 109-107 loss in Detroit on Nov. 17... The Nets' floor general totaled a season-high 39 points, to go with seven assists, in a 119-112 loss to Indiana on Nov. 2.
1998-1999:
Marbury played in 49 games during the '98-99 season, 31 with New Jersey and 18 with the Minnesota Timberwolves... Marbury was traded by the Timberwolves, along with Chris Carr, Bill Curley and Paul Grant, to the New Jersey Nets in a three-team deal (Milwaukee Bucks) for Terrell Brandon, Brian Evans, a 1999 first-round draft choice and a future first-round draft choice on March 11... He finished eighth in the league in scoring at 21.3 points per game... In his last five games of the season, Marbury averaged 33.2 points and posted three 30-plus games, as well as a 40-plus outing... He registered a then career-high 41 points (13-24 FG) and a game-high 11 assists in a 115-107 victory over the Bucks on May 5... He recorded game-highs of 37 points (4-6 3FG) and 10 assists in a 113-102 victory over the Washington Wizards on May 3. Two days earlier, Marbury scored a team-high 32 points (15-15 FT) and dished a game-high nine assists in another victory (102-91) over the Wizards... Marbury posted a career-high 20 assists, to go with a team-high 26 points, in a 120-98 victory over the Indiana Pacers on April 25... He made his Nets debut, recording team-highs of 21 points (9-15 FG) and five assists, against the Miami Heat on March 14... He totaled game-highs of 25 points and 16 assists, and grabbed five rebounds, against Portland on Feb. 28... Marbury was named NBA Player of the Week for the week ending Feb. 21, averaging 24.3 points, on .549 field-goal shooting, and a league-high 11.8 assists for the 3-1 Timberwolves... He became only the 5th player in NBA history to top 40 points and 10 assists in a game without a turnover, posting game-highs of 40 points (16-24 FG) and 12 assists, as well as four rebounds, in a 116-102 win over the Houston Rockets on Feb. 17.
1997-1998:
Marbury wrapped up his second year in the NBA appearing in all 82 games and ranked fourth in the league in assists (8.6)... He registered 27 double-doubles, and led the Timberwolves in assists 65 times... Marbury scored 30 points (11-17 FG, 4-4 3FG) and added 10 assists in a 110-103 victory over the Utah Jazz on April 11 ... He totaled 18 points, a game-high 16 assists, six rebounds and three steals in a 92-89 victory over the Miami Heat on April 7... He totaled game-highs of 35 points (6-9 3FG) and 12 assists, and grabbed four rebounds against the L.A. Lakers on Jan. 30... The point guard recorded 31 points, nine assists, four steals and three rebounds in a 112-106 victory over the Vancouver Grizzlies on Jan. 29... Marbury posted a game-high 35 points, hitting a Timberwolves' franchise record 8-of-11 three-pointers, seven assists and four rebounds in a 112-103 victory over the Seattle Sonics on Dec. 23... He scored a then career-high 38 points and added 10 assists against the Utah Jazz on Nov. 24... 1998 PLAYOFFS: Marbury led the T-Wolves in assists in all five games in a first round series with the Sonics averaging 7.6 a game... He had a team-high 25 points in Game 2 of the series.
1996-1997:
Just eight minutes into the Timberwolves' season opener, Marbury suffered a sprained right ankle that would sideline him for the next seven games... Upon his return, the fourth overall pick in the '96 draft enjoyed an outstanding rookie season, as he helped Minnesota reach the playoffs for the first time in franchise history... He started 64 of the 67 games he played in (he missed eight more with a bruised right thigh) and led the team with 7.8 assists a game, tops among all rookies. Marbury also averaged 15.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.00 steals in 34.7 minutes per game, and his 102 three-pointers tied James Robinson for the team lead... His efforts earned him NBA All-Rookie First Team honors, and he finished second in Rookie of the Year balloting behind 76ers guard Allen Iverson... Marbury finished the season strongly, averaging 17.7 points and 8.1 assists in April... He matched a franchise record shared by Sidney Lowe, Pooh Richardson and Micheal Williams when he handed out 17 assists in a 122-112 win over Milwaukee on April 18... He scored a season-high 33 points in a 107-98 win over Utah on Dec. 23, and set a rookie record with six three-pointers in a 94-89 win over New Jersey on April 2. Marbury was selected to compete in the Schick Rookie Classic at All-Star Weekend but did not compete due to his thigh injury. 1997 PLAYOFFS: Marbury averaged team-highs of 21.3 points and 7.7 assists in Minnesota's three playoff losses to Houston. The rookie playmaker scored a team-high 28 points (10-19 FG), in the Wolves' first-ever playoff game.
COLLEGE:
Marbury entered the NBA Draft after playing one season at Georgia Tech, where he earned Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie-of-the-Year honors. Additionally, he was selected to the ACC First Team, only the fifth freshman in conference history to do so, and was named Third Team All-America by The Associated Press... Marbury came to the Yellow Jackets as the most heralded recruit in the ACC and the most heralded point guard since Kenny Anderson... He led the team and ranked third in the ACC in scoring with 18.9 points... He scored a career-high 29 points vs. Boston College in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and tied a career best with nine assists in the same game... He earned unanimous All-ACC Tournament honors, scoring 26 points in the ACC Championship game vs. Wake Forest, leading Georgia Tech to the title.
Bio Taken From NBA.com
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