New York Daily News - The biggest charity basketball game in New York City used to draw mega-stars, including Kevin Garnett. Now, sadly, it can't even keep the top local players at home.

When they played the 15th annual New York Basketball Classic at the Garden last night, Stephon Marbury, the main headliner and easily the biggest draw, was out on the West Coast doing a promotional tour for his new Starbury sneakers. After engaging in a season-long war with Larry Brown as the Knicks went through a nightmarish 23-win season, Marbury has spent this offseason carefully trying to remake his image. While organizers of last night's game said they understood the Knick playmaker's last-minute cancellation, it couldn't have helped his cause. One other big-name player, the Hornets' Chris Paul, just back from the World Championships, also canceled.

"It's a disappointment that Steph couldn't be here, but he has done a lot for us over the years," said Hank Carter, the game's founder and chairman. "The only thing I feel bad about is that a lot of people came here to see Steph play. But I also can understand the business part of it. He's trying to help the younger kids with these sneakers. But God will take care of us."

all right let's give noshowbury a break. nobody's gonna handle all lthis stuff perfectly and he's trying to juggle a lot at the moment, wouldn't you say?

Conflicts off schedule come up sometimes. For the most part Steph is really good at participating in charity events, so i'm not gonna get crazy about one that gets missed. I'm sure he'll be back next year.

Such is the life of a traveling shoe salesman.

What a jerk!!!!!!!!!!!!

He's going to have to lower his shoe to $12 to make up for this!!!

Posted by nixluva:

Conflicts off schedule come up sometimes. For the most part Steph is really good at participating in charity events, so i'm not gonna get crazy about one that gets missed. I'm sure he'll be back next year.

Hopefully as an ex-Knick.

So steph is a headliner? The man had prior engagements. Steph probably said he was definately gonna be there knowing he had to be out west. He probably was trying to squeeze the time to fly out here. It doesn't make sense to all of a sudden have have a west coast promotion trip.

When does the season start? I'm getting annoyed with these stupid knick stories.

Posted by EnySpree:

Posted by rvhoss:

Posted by islesfan:

I guess kids in wheelchairs aren't a part of his sneakers target market.

When its spinned like that than its easy to add more hate to the haterade. Maybe he could have worked it in his schedule to be there. He did it for Felipe Lopez and his benifit. Maybe he tried to do it for the wheelchair classic. Maybe he was gonna do it but the wheelchair guys didn't agree to advertise the sneakers. Who knows?

All I know is I simply can't wait till the season starts.

Rumor has it he overslept after a long night of playing NBA 2k6. He decided to always play as the Phoenix Suns and New Jersey Nets, so he could get a taste of playing as a team-oriented point guard.

Posted by islesfan:

This just proves that all that "doing it for the community" is all a bunch of crap. It's not about the community, it's about Starbury making a buck.

"STARBUCKS"!

Too bad Spree couldn't make it.

Those wheelchairs with spinners on it would be fly.