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Few should be shocked by Marbury's antics, as selfishness has defined what could have been a stellar career. He broke up a potentially historic duet with Kevin Garnett because Minnesota was too cold. He's referred to himself as the best point guard in the NBA -- during Steve Nash's MVP run, no less -- and he has never used all of his amazing talent for defensive purposes.
Marbury perhaps made NBA history last week -- the first player to blackmail his coach -- when he reportedly told the New York Daily News, "(coach Isiah Thomas) has to start me. I've got so much (stuff) on Isiah, and he knows it. He thinks he can (get) me. But I'll (get) him first."
This was all part of Marbury's fallout with Thomas, which was prompted by Thomas taking Marbury out of the starting lineup because of matador defense and climaxing with Marbury leaving the team in Phoenix and flying back to New York.
If anyone wanted to make the case that the NBA is full of spoiled athletes, this would be Exhibit A. Of course, Marbury has since decided to return to the team and played in the Knicks'
loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
"I'm here to play basketball and I'm just going to concentrate on that," Marbury told the Bergen County (N.J.) Record. "I'm leaving it internal like Isiah said. I wish that everyone would respect that."
The reason he returned? Genuine remorse? Dedication to his teammates? Realization that the Knicks could make the playoffs this season?
Based on Marbury's history it was probably the game check he lost, a $182,000 fine, a small chunk of the $20.1 million he is making this season. Or maybe it was because Thomas caved and let him back on the team without a suspension or any real disciplinary action.
Marbury has never had to pay for his ego spasms, never seems to receive the karma he deserves. He's gotten the big contracts, he's gotten the trades he's wanted, he is getting to live his dream of playing for his beloved Knicks. For someone who is so reputed as a me-first kind of guy, one has to wonder when his recompense will come.
The Knicks had a chance to dish out some justice, but succumbed to Marbury's awesome talent. They could've been the bearers of karma to a notoriously self-centered star. But, like so many throughout Marbury's career, they failed to teach him a lesson.
"My goal is to try to win the basketball game," Thomas told the Record. "I've played with people I don't like. I've won with people I don't like, and we're a professional basketball team and my job is to try to win the basketball game. However I feel about a person, that doesn't matter. We're trying to win. Whatever happened in the past is in the past and we move forward."
Maybe that explains why Marbury is this way in the first place.
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