http://www.nba.com/suns/news/marbury_050921.html

Marbury participating in AWA informal workouts
A Piece of the Past is Present

By Steven J. Koek, Suns.com
Posted: Sept. 21, 2005
Stephon Marbury brought the ball up the America West Arena practice court, dribbled around an Amaré Stoudemire pick before getting it back to STAT, who threw down a vicious slam.

A severe case of déjà vu is occurring this week as the former Suns point guard is in the Valley while preparing for his second full season with the Knicks. The All-Star playmaker is affiliated with the Phoenix-based National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and is participating in informal workouts.

Marbury spent two-and-a-half seasons in a Suns uniform before being traded to New York midway through the 2003-04 season.

“I love Phoenix,” Marbury said. “Phoenix was good to me. When I came to Phoenix, I think I really got my life together and I got my career together. I still have a place here. I love coming back here. The people are great and the Suns are a great organization.”

The two-time All-Star holds no grudges against Phoenix for trading him and is happy to be able to return to the Valley and play some pick-up ball with Stoudemire, whom “Starbury” pegged for greatness even before his Rookie-of-the-Year season in 2002-03.

“Amaré is phenomenal,” Marbury said. “Everybody got mad when I said he was better than Kevin Garnett. I said that from the beginning and everybody thought I was being arrogant and didn’t know what I was talking about. But I was playing with somebody that I knew had the potential to be one of the best players to ever play.”

Informal Gathering

Current Suns players have continued to file in to participate in informal workouts this week. New big men Kurt Thomas and Brian Grant made their first appearances in the last couple of days, and Steve Nash, Raja Bell, Leandro Barbosa, Pat Burke and James Jones have also hit the practice court hardwood to prepare for training camp, which begins on Oct. 3.

The only roster players yet to hit the Valley all have good excuses. Shawn Marion has just returned from a European vacation. Jimmy Jackson is still recovering from his trip to South Africa, where he participated in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders outreach program, and Boris Diaw is still competing for his home country France in the European Championships, which wrap up this weekend.

I wonder if our boys are working out together also...Marb needs to be in N.Y right now with his new team mates not in Phoenix.....


Current Suns players have continued to file in to participate in informal workouts this week. New big men Kurt Thomas and Brian Grant made their first appearances in the last couple of days, and Steve Nash, Raja Bell, Leandro Barbosa, Pat Burke and James Jones have also hit the practice court hardwood to prepare for training camp, which begins on Oct. 3.

The only roster players yet to hit the Valley all have good excuses. Shawn Marion has just returned from a European vacation. Jimmy Jackson is still recovering from his trip to South Africa, where he participated in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders outreach program, and Boris Diaw is still competing for his home country France in the European Championships, which wrap up this weekend.