A friend in Marbury

The Suns hope to extend Marcelo's stay for as long as possible. He is currently in the United States on a visitor's visa. But even his Brazilian cooking can't prepare the baby in the Barbosa family for what he has begun to encounter. The NBA is a different jungle than the one Sgt. Barbosa survived, but it can be a jungle, nonetheless.

Enter a surrogate big brother, Stephon Marbury.

The Suns veteran playmaker has been quietly communicating with Barbosa through Fernandes, friendship and a game.

"Off the floor, he has to understand he's a guy suddenly making a lot of money," said Marbury, whose dressing stall in the Suns locker room at America West Arena is next to Barbosa's. "He has to be his own company. That's hard, especially for him. I'm just trying to put him in the forefront, in control of his career.

"We communicate well. He comes to my house. We talk on the phone all the time. He probably understands me better than anybody because I'm talking to him all the time."

But Marbury is doing more than just talking to Barbosa about a new lifestyle. He is buying him a piece of it.

As a rookie, Barbosa is still waiting on his first big paycheck. He's been driving a rental for the past few weeks. But that's about to change. Marbury is buying him an Escalade, a Cadillac-made SUV, that will be delivered once it is outfitted with a top-of-the line sound system.

"I knew he didn't have the money to do it right now," Marbury said. "I'm just helping him. I'm not really buying it for him. Eventually, he'll pay me back. He's got some real game.

"But right now I'm just helping him out, making sure that he only has to worry about basketball."

Without the stick.

Posted by diderotn:

Marb is not a selfish guy at all....I am glad that you have posted this article for N.Y fans to see who Marb really is.

Posted by NYKBocker:

Here is a link http://www.nba.com/suns/news/azcentral_031026.html

A friend in Marbury

The Suns hope to extend Marcelo's stay for as long as possible. He is currently in the United States on a visitor's visa. But even his Brazilian cooking can't prepare the baby in the Barbosa family for what he has begun to encounter. The NBA is a different jungle than the one Sgt. Barbosa survived, but it can be a jungle, nonetheless.

Enter a surrogate big brother, Stephon Marbury.

The Suns veteran playmaker has been quietly communicating with Barbosa through Fernandes, friendship and a game.

"Off the floor, he has to understand he's a guy suddenly making a lot of money," said Marbury, whose dressing stall in the Suns locker room at America West Arena is next to Barbosa's. "He has to be his own company. That's hard, especially for him. I'm just trying to put him in the forefront, in control of his career.

"We communicate well. He comes to my house. We talk on the phone all the time. He probably understands me better than anybody because I'm talking to him all the time."

But Marbury is doing more than just talking to Barbosa about a new lifestyle. He is buying him a piece of it.

As a rookie, Barbosa is still waiting on his first big paycheck. He's been driving a rental for the past few weeks. But that's about to change. Marbury is buying him an Escalade, a Cadillac-made SUV, that will be delivered once it is outfitted with a top-of-the line sound system.

"I knew he didn't have the money to do it right now," Marbury said. "I'm just helping him. I'm not really buying it for him. Eventually, he'll pay me back. He's got some real game.

"But right now I'm just helping him out, making sure that he only has to worry about basketball."

Without the stick.

Dido - Now don't get me wrong though. He is a very giving man outside the court. It's his leadership skills I question. Writing "All Alone" in ones sneaker does not bode well with me.

Posted by Silverfuel:

NYKBocker, I see what you mean but I think thats just his way of motivating himself. I dont think he is trying to say he is All Alone on the team.