"Most Underrated PG Ever: Stephon Marbury Should Be Considered"

I recently had a debate with a few former co-workers at ESPN about who, based on stats, is in the top 10 PG's.  No easy debate given our expertise at ESPN is sports and stats and hidden nuggets.  I liken it to debating bags and shoes with any woman.

Of course you get the usual suspects stats in tow. The stats are points and rebounds. Obviously Magic Johnson (19.5 & 11.2) led the way, John Stockton (13.1 & 10.5), Kevin Johnson (17.9 & 9.1), Steve Nash (15.7 & 9.7) Isiah Thomas (19.2 & 9.3).  A funny thing happened after someone said Isiah, I said what about Marbury?

Man you should have scene the looks I got and the language that came out of some mouths.  Let's just say that the FCC would have had a field day with all the fines we would have gotten if we were live on the air.  After I let the laughter and the expletives die down I said 'OK, maybe you're right.'

Then I said how about this cat that has a career 19.3 points and 7.6 assists?  Mind you Isiah is 19.2 & 9.3 for his career.  One asked, who Gary Payton?  Yeah he's in there, he said. I said no Payton is 16.3 & 6.7.  So now, being the sports geeks that we are, we turned this into a game.  Three of whom are researchers mind you.

Next guess was, Maurice Cheeks.  No I said, he was 11.1 & 6.7 not even close. next person said Jason Kidd but then realized that Kidd couldn't average 19 if he wanted to, by the way Kidd is 13.8 & 9.2.  I decided to let them off the hook and told then who it was.  Stephon Marbury!

I told them not to get it twisted, if it weren't for his personality and him being a knuckle head lately there wouldn't any question.  If he was the media darling that Dwight Howard is or the leagues promise child like LeBron you wouldn't even think twice.

Not many people in the history of the NBA have ever averaged 19.3 and 7.6.  Never mind the rings, this debate was about stats and only stats but people only remember his contract beef with the Timberwolves and fight with Isiah Thomas with whom coincidentally has the most comparable stats to.

So imagine Marbury had stayed with the Timberwolves with Garnett and a couple of pieces were added.  Imagine that he had two or three rings would there be any question about his place as one of the best point guards?  By the way, don't look now but Marbury and Garnett are reunited in Boston with a good chance next year.

I'm just saying.  Don't let your prejudices deny a great player his due respect.  I admit, this article probably won't get him into most top 10 point guards ever conversations or even most people's top 20's for that matter but it's right there in black and white if you look it up.  His numbers rank right up there with the best.