Basketball great Isiah Thomas dropped a bold declaration for former Nets franchise cornerstone Stephon Marbury.
In a recent appearance on NBA TV’s Game Time, the all-time great point guard delivered his claim that Marbury must be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, considering his massive contributions not only in the United States but also in China
“Let me say this about Stephon Marbury right, and I’m speaking as a Hall of Famer. Stephon Marbury should be in the Hall of Fame. He’s impacted basketball in the United States of America…but then he goes over to China, and he’s impacted basketball in China.”
“Stephon Marbury should be in the Hall of Fame. ... I’ve been calling for it for a long time and I’m calling for it again tonight.”@IsiahThomas on @StarburyMarbury's impact pic.twitter.com/IERcRQ6jNR
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 19, 2024
Marbury played 13 seasons in the NBA, of which he notably spent two and a half of them as the star and lead man for the New Jersey Nets from 1999 to 2001, bagging an All-Star selection with his high-scoring ability and explosive demeanor.
December 12, 2000: New Jersey’s Stephon Marbury ELEVATES for the slam against his former team.
— NBA Cobwebs (@NBACobwebs) December 12, 2022
Marbury had 27 PTS & 7 AST in the Nets’ 116-94 win over Minnesota. Kevin Garnett had 21 PTS & 10 REB for the Timberwolves. pic.twitter.com/vQS9Sy1HVJ
But upon the conclusion of the 2008-09 season, Stephon took his acts in Asia, where he suited up in the Chinese Basketball Association. From there, he became a widely acclaimed phenomenon among Chinese fans and found a rebirth in his career after a turbulent ending to his NBA tenure. As a superstar in CBA, he secured three championships, a Finals MVP, and three All-Star selections while becoming an instant celebrity and a major influence in the country’s basketball scenes.
The ex-Nets star might not have been able to produce plenty of accolades and remarkable feats during his time in the NBA, but there is no doubt that his sports and cultural impacts in one of the world’s biggest nations should be enough already for Starbury to at least get a considerable nod in Springfield.
Stephon Marbury is so popular in China that fans even want him to sign their laptops and camera lenses. #MarburyCloseUp #CU360
— CloseUp360 (@CloseUp360) October 31, 2019
A first-look mini-documentary of @StarburyMarbury’s transition to a head coach in China (he makes his debut on November 2): https://t.co/wGFmNWF20Q pic.twitter.com/CUQGjUqTVr
Only time can tell if he’ll get the worthy recognition, but Stephon himself already believes that he deserves some love and respect to make it to basketball enshrinement.
“When a Hall of Famer (Isiah Thomas) says you deserve to get in, that’s one of the highest praises,” he said. “Regardless of the numbers, you need to go in. Not even talking about China. It will take about another 10-20 years for people to understand that impact. That was all GOD!”
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!