Here is a story that ran in today’s Eagle-Tribune about Stephon Marbury possibly joining the Celtics.
I spoke with ex-Boston College star Billy Curley, now the coach at Thayer Academy, who played with Marbury on the Minnesota T-Wolves.
Ex-teammate says Marbury is worth the gamble
Bill Burt
Billy Curley hasn’t been to a Boston Celtics game yet this year. But the former Boston College star and ex-NBA Minnesota Timberwolves player is in the middle of making plans to attend Sunday’s matinee against the Detroit Pistons with his son, who turns 10 on Sunday.
He wants an up-close-and-personal view of the “new” Stephon Marbury.
Curley has some experience with the “old” or, better yet, the young and immature Stephon Marbury. Curley was teammates with Marbury and Kevin Garnett for parts of two seasons — 1997-98 and 1998-99.
“It was obvious pretty early that Garnett and Marbury were probably going to be great players,” said Curley, who is boys basketball coach at Thayer Academy. “And then you throw Googs (Tom Gugliotta) in, that’s three stars. That was a team to build on.”
Then, for reasons known only to Marbury, all hell broke loose. Garnett had signed a $126 million maximum contract in 1998. When it was time for Marbury’s new deal the “maximum” dropped to $71 million and, well, he couldn’t accept that and remain on the Timberwolves. Not as second fiddle to KG.
Marbury was traded away after 18 games in 1999 and his career, while loaded with points (19.7) and All-Star game appearances (two), basically disintegrated into oblivion.
But that might change if Marbury agrees to join the Celtics after the N.Y. Knicks bought him out Tuesday — Marbury agreed to forego about $2 million from the $21 million he was due this season. The Celtics would only have to pay Marbury about $200,000.
“I really am excited about this for the Celtics and for Stephon,” said Curley, who retired after the 2000-01 season. “It’s a great situation for him. The Celtics are a great team. It’s his chance to finally get a championship. And the Celtics get a great player for almost nothing.”
Curley says Marbury, whose cousin, Sebastian Telfair, is a former Celtic, needs the Celtics more than the Celtics need him.
“The Celtics are champions without Stephon,” said Curley. “It’s going to be up to him to fit in with what they are doing. He will have to fit in. It’s that simple. If he doesn’t, then he will be gone.”
The Marbury-Garnett feud, which was boiling a few years ago, must have been called off, said Curley.
“I think the key guy in getting this done was Kevin (Garnett),” said Curley. “Kevin turned everything around here, with his attitude and work ethic. The Celtics wouldn’t be going after Stephon if Kevin didn’t sign off on this. I think it tells you that they will be fine together.”
But Curley expects a maturation process in the marriage. It will take Marbury time to figure out exactly what his role will be, particularly backing up point guard Rajon Rondo.
“I think, especially at the beginning, Stephon will be a little too unselfish,” said Curley. “He’ll realize that there are other options. But if he has open shots or creates shots for himself, he will have to take them. I believe Doc (Rivers) will help figure it out.”
The bonus, says Curley, of adding Marbury is that opposing defenses will have to adjust when he is on the floor, particularly subbing for Rondo.
“Stephon will open up things because he will force the defense to cover him,” said Curley. “They don’t have to do that with Rondo. You can lay off him and give him the jump shot. You can’t do that with Stephon. He will make them. He’s a great shooter. I’ve seen it from both sides.”
Curley has experience on the other side of Marbury’s shooting prowess. Marbury was a freshman at Georgia Tech when he scorched BC, which included Curley’s brother, Mickey, for 29 points in a 103-89 win to advance to the Sweet 16 in 1996.
“People talk about him being rusty, not playing this entire season, but I think it could go the other way,” said Curley. “When you’re not playing and watching, you reflect on things a lot more. He’s had a lot to think about. He probably realizes he made mistakes earlier in his career and this is a chance to change that.”
One mistake, even Marbury would admit, was his focus on money. Well, he has made $150 million in salary alone since joining the NBA. He was actually the second highest paid player in the league with Garnett one at $24,750,000 and Marbury and Iverson both at $21,937,500.
“I’m happy for Stephon,” said Curley. “He had a lot of family, brothers that he was playing for. The money was important to him, probably too important. But this is a chance to go back and re-do things. He has the big bankroll. Now, for the first time, he can concentrate on playing. I believe he’s hungry. This could be fun to watch.”
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They’ve Got Game
Stephon Marbury is closely linked with Celtics guard Ray Allen. The two were traded for each other on draft night in 1996. The Bucks took Marbury at No. 4 and dealt him to Minnesota for Allen, the No. 5 pick, and a future first rounder.
Allen played Jesus Shuttlesworth in the movie “He Got Game.” Shuttlesworth, a hoop phenom from Coney Island, was obviously based on Marbury, a hoop phenom from Coney Island.
