Phoenix Suns fans are all dreaming of the franchise’s first NBA Championship. Their incredible run has also caught the attention of former players. One of them is Stephon Marbury, who is happy to see his old team reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993.
Marbury is a two-time NBA All Star who played in the league for 12 years, averaging 19.3 points, 7.6 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 37.7 minutes over 846 games with the Timberwolves, Nets, Suns, Knicks and Celtics. He played for the Suns from 2001 to 2004, averaging 21.3 points, 8.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 39.8 minutes over 197 games in three seasons.
“I’m so happy for the city,” Marbury told Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson of Bally Sports via text message. “It’s a big sports town, and the town truly deserves this energy that’s flowing.”
A Brooklyn native, Marbury also provided his own analysis of the Suns’ rapid rise.
“(Devin) Booker stayed true to his craft throughout his short time in the league,” Marbury texted.
“The resilience of Chris Paul’s desire to push higher for the highest goal is clear this year to all. Monty Williams is a gentleman and a scholar who delivered his basketball school plan to the world. Deandre Ayton is a beast with so much promise in the future.
I’m happy for all the fans in Arizona who get to share this moment.”
Marbury is a fan of Deandre Ayton, this is what he told Robinson by phone from China earlier in the year:
“Deandre Ayton is going to be a monster. He’s one of those kids that people said he wasn’t good and he couldn’t do this or that, but you can tell he has a good work ethic.”
As far as Ayton’s NBA future: “As time goes on, he’s going to get in a position where he doesn’t have to just dunk. Once he gets a turnaround jumper, he’s going to be hard to stop,” Marbury added.
