Marbury: "I Want To Die A Knick"
30th May, 2006 - 4:06 am
New York Post - Knicks guard Stephon Marbury has been mentioned in trade rumors this summer but he does not want to go anywhere.

"I want to be a Knick, I want to die a Knick," Marbury told The Post in an exclusive Memorial-Day interview.

"If I ever was to be cremated, I'd want my ashes sprinkled on top of the Garden."

While there are rumors that Marbury will be traded, those rumors will likely die down if as expected Larry Brown does not return as head coach.

Marbury also believes last year's team, which had a 23-59 record can be a playoff team and should not be broken up.

"I hope that every player on this team comes back next season," Marbury said.

"I honestly mean that. Every player. I think we have a great team. I think it will be so much different next year."

I appreciate the loyalty to the team. The way Dolan is, he may keep Marbury and/most of the players we have and get rid of Brown because its an easier angle. I would try to get rid of some of these guys if it were me, because I dont believe this is a good team. It needs to continue down the road of last year-bringing 2-3 quality guys from the draft-BUT make smart decisions with vet transactions.
We have to many guys who pound the ball, not enough guys who get back quick enough and its a horrible combination.

My real hope is that Browna and Marbury can encapsulate that 9 game stretch and work off of that.

Sometimes we all have a bad year. We don't feel right physically and we take on too much obligation.

I can live with everyone coming back albeit more mature, more understanding and more unified if at all possible.

"I want to Die a Knick?"

Are we sure he was quoted right?

Reports indicate he might have said:

I want a "tai stick"!

I like "pie", "Rick!".

I am "high, but not sick".

or

I "want to sigh with my prick"!

Its also reported that Kurt Thomas and QRich are more than willing to fulfill Starburys wish!

"I want to be a Knick, I want to die a Knick,"

[i"Playing here has always been my dream," ]

"If I ever was to be cremated, I'd want my ashes sprinkled on top of the Garden." [/i]

Its time for him to play with "that" type of passion & effort all around consistantly. I'm hoping thats what he meant by playing like Starbury.

'I WANT TO DIE A KNICK'

MARBURY SAYS NO TRADES NEEDED FOR 'GREAT TEAM'

By MARC BERMAN
May 30, 2006 -- While Knicks captain Stephon Marbury declined to discuss the ongoing Larry Brown saga, the star point guard from Coney Island was very clear about his own future, saying he wants to "die a Knick."

"I want to be a Knick, I want to die a Knick," Marbury told The Post in an exclusive Memorial-Day interview.

"If I ever was to be cremated, I'd want my ashes sprinkled on top of the Garden."

"Playing here has always been my dream," Marbury added. "I want to be in New York more than any place."

Marbury's chances of remaining in his hometown will increase greatly once owner James Dolan pulls the trigger and removes Brown from the picture.

Brown, who has told friends he feels he's going to be asked to leave, will run more pre-draft workouts today, but his ouster could occur this week.

Marbury, who engaged Brown in a back-and-forth war of words that defined the awful season, was more comfortable discussing the future of his teammates than his coach.

He believes the current roster is playoff material, tons better than 23-59.

"I hope that every player on this team comes back next season," Marbury said.

"I honestly mean that. Every player. I think we have a great team. I think it will be so much different next year."

Isiah Thomas and Dolan don't want to trade Marbury unless they get back an All-Star caliber player - in direct contradiction to Brown's wishes. It's unlikely the Knicks could get back equal value because of Marbury's big contract and diminished trade value after his Brown war.

Marbury also missed 22 games with shoulder and knee injuries, including the season's final 11. The Knicks were 5-17 without Marbury.

Marbury attempted to clarify his confusing end-of-season declaration that Brown made him "a better man."

"When I said Larry made me a better man, some people didn't get it," Marbury said. "I meant it. What I meant is, I had never been tested like that on a daily basis.

"I had never been through that type of adversity every day. We all have defining moments like that. And it just happened to happen at that point."

Marbury realizes he's at a career crossroads and wishes Knicks fans would remember his first season in New York.

Arriving in January, 2004, the point-guard-poor Knicks were dead in the water before Marbury revived the franchise, leading them to the playoffs, breaking a two-year drought.

But after two non-playoff years, Knick fans don't know what to think, and Marbury heard his first Garden boos in March during the apex of his Brown feud.

"It didn't upset me at all," Marbury said. "That's the climate that was set. It was about how the team was doing. And I think fans knew I was being asked to play a certain way."

Yesterday, Marbury responded to Charlie Ward, dealt in the 2004 blockbuster, who piled on two weeks ago when he said, "Everyone wanted a superstar point guard when I was there. They've got a big name now and they're dealing with the consequences."

Said Marbury, "What I have to say to Charlie Ward is he's not playing and I am. Charlie is looking for a job. I'd rather be in my position than his any day of the week."

Marbury swears if the Knicks were winning, he never would have said a peep about his diminished role.

"I am willing to do anything that it takes to win here," said Marbury, who made reference to a nine-game stretch in January during which the Knicks posted a six-game winning streak. "Except for those nine games, I wasn't playing the same way I did when I first got here."

Before he injured his shoulder, Marbury averaged 22.3 points, 9.6 assists, 2.4 turnovers and shot 47 percent during the nine games.

It took more than five weeks before Marbury was fully healed. By then, Brown had already taken a stranglehold on the offense and Marbury was not allowed to freelance to the basket, creating for himself and others like in January.

If his ally, Thomas, becomes coach, there's hope within the organization Marbury, 29 and in his prime, will be able to lead the Knicks like he led them his first successful season here.

marc.berman@nypost.com

Marbury KNOWS his window of opportunity is closing. The next two years are the prime of his career.

He can play his azz off and be remembered as the homeboy who made good.

Or he can make trouble, sulk and be remembered as a knicks player who never won anything.

Standing up for his team mates is a start.

Wards comments were based on Starbury snapping on Ward and Childs back in 1999.

What to do, the guy is a great talent and if he plays hard can be one of the better point guards in the league...Brown is a great talent as well and can be one of the top two coaches in the league with all the extras aside...It's just ashame that both couldn't compromise to put a winning situation here...They are both NY products that are headstrong and both divas...Brown is 65 and Marbs is 29, not a lot of basketball left in their careers...Sad to see this Franchise reeling at this juncture mainly because these two guys can't get on the same page....

Posted by Nalod:

Wards comments were based on Starbury snapping on Ward and Childs back in 1999.

So he waited 7 years to retalliate? I don't know...

Posted by fishmike:

Holfresh... this is where our pansy GM hurts us also. He should be telling Brown the same thing.

Isiah to Marbury: do exactly what coach Brown asks or you will end up in Atlanta or Portland.
Isiah to Brown: Marbury isnt going anywhere, and he's a good player. Make it work. If its an effort problem I will deal with it. If its an Xs and Os problem its on you.

I am 100% in agreement with this.