With rumors swirling all summer he would be released, Stephon Marbury phoned Donnie Walsh a week before training camp. Walsh told Marbury indeed he may be waived, but “it’s not written in stone.”
According to a source close to Marbury, the Knicks point guard then asked Walsh if he could talk to the Celtics because he thought there might be interest. One day later, Walsh informed Marbury he was coming to training camp because Knicks owner James Dolan was not comfortable with the idea of him playing for their arch rivals, according to the source.
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If Marbury had held his tongue, his Boston arrival could have come much sooner. After being held hostage – in his mind – for the last five months, Marbury signed with the Celtics yesterday and after not playing a regular-season game since Jan. 11, 2008, helped the world champions post a 104-99 win over the Pacers at the new Boston Garden.
Marbury, who received a standing ovation when he checked in, led a fourth-quarter rally and finished with eight points on 4-of-6 shooting with two assists in 12 minutes.
“Oh, man, I wanted to cry,” he said. “I didn’t know what to expect. I thought people would clap, but they showed me a lot of love tonight.”
Walsh last night denied he had those conversations with Marbury, saying it was “totally not true.” Walsh said Marbury did not bring up talking to another team until a negotiating session in mid-November.
According to ESPN.com, Marbury’s $1.3 million wage with Boston won’t be pro-rated, meaning he comes out nearly even from taking a buyout.
During a press conference before the game, Marbury said of his Boston signing, “I was lit up. Because the tradition of the Celtics, thinking about the championships, all the guys who’ve played here, the history speaks for itself.
“I pretty much had my mind set. I spoke to other teams but this is where I wanted to be because they wanted me. My mother always says there’s a difference between someone wanting you as opposed to just wanting to go there.”
That Marbury felt unwanted with the Knicks was the chief reason he declined Mike D’Antoni’s offer to become the starting shooting guard on Thanksgiving Eve, which led to his fine and banishment. While Marbury was speaking at his press conference, D’Antoni spoke at his, saying, “A guy that talented coming off the bench, it’s not a bad chance to take.”
Despite a hurried walkthrough before the game, Marbury was in no mood to refuse coach Doc Rivers’ wish to play. The Celtics were hurting, with Kevin Garnett and Tony Allen out with injuries and backup PG Gabe Pruitt suspended for a DUI.
“Everybody was excited, which I was happy about,” Marbury said of reaction from his new mates. “I’m so happy to be able to play basketball again, let alone care what my role is. I’m just excited about playing. It was a humbling experience [not to play].”
His reunion with Garnett, who will be out another week or two, will have to wait. Marbury said his mother once predicted they would be together again.
“She kept telling me one day it would happen,” Marbury said. “I’m happy about that. Playing with Kevin will be a lot of fun.”
Many pundits have come around to praise the Marbury move. He had nice success with Garnett in Minnesota. Rajon Rondo is a poor outside shooter, which Marbury is not. And Eddie House, who had been playing backup PG, was just voted fifth-worst dribbler in the league in an Sports Illustrated players’ poll.
Asked about if he wanted to play in Boston next season, Marbury said, “If they want me, I’ll be here.”