Not really a fair comparison...Marbury has done less with equal(In New Jersey) and more (In Phoenix) talent. That's not to say that New Jersey didn't have talent, just that it was never available to play. His quote, if anything, is a compliment to Mario Elie. Even if Amare is better than the rookie Garnett, he can't be too much better. Therefore, MJ was not that much better a player than Mario Elie.
I take that last part back...Since Marbury said that there was no comparison, it is an insult towards Mario. Someone needs to ask Dan Majerle, Kevin Johnson, Charles Barkley, and co. about Mario Elie.
marbury was drafted in 96 and has 3 years on francis. and this is the same marbury that could have been on a contending team if he wouldn't let his head swell up so much like it is now and stay put in minny. he's a selfish player that couldn't handle being 2nd fiddle to garnett. demanding to be traded was one of the worst career moves for marbury. he's lucky that he has amare and stoudemire with him, otherwise it'll be back to the lottery again.
pretty soon..Stoudemire will kick Marbury out of phoenix just like Garnett did..ha ha ha... does Marbury think he can win a championship by himself..? it takes TEAM work..
This puts the whole story in context. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/1724810 Jealous again -- Suns rookie Amare "Stud"emire is going to inspire some outlandish reactions. When Stoudemire went for 38 points against the Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett on Monday, Stephon Marbury, Stoudemire's teammate who should still be Garnett's teammate, made sure no one would top him in hyperbole. Garnett, Marbury said, "doesn't even compare to Amare. It's not even close. It's two different people -- it's like Michael Jordan and Mario Elie." That will be tough to beat. But Garnett believed Marbury was revealing his feelings about Garnett, rather than praising Stoudemire. Garnett seemed occasionally amused, but he also was offended and a touch angry when hearing the tape of Marbury's giddy comparisons. "Young fella had a good night. I'm not disputing that," Garnett said. "But this isn't even about the young fella. This is about Steph being jealous. This is Steph -- you all know this -- from Jersey. From him leaving here, which was a great situation, to him never recuping from that. "I'm more professional than that. I'm not going to throw a Loren Woods or a Stoudemire into a conversation -- what is this going to gain? He wants to have more air time on ESPN or something? He wants to make (newspaper) columns in the morning? W's speak in this game, man. I don't even understand how I'm supposed to come back at this. I won tonight, you know? Since he left, I've been in the playoffs. ... I guess someone wants to be me. This isn't even about the young fella. This is about him being jealous of me." Marbury forced a traded out of Minnesota in 1999. He said it was because he wanted to play closer to home, but most still believe (and even Marbury has hinted) that he was envious of Garnett's contract, endorsements and status. "This is really kind of bizarre, kind of funny," Garnett continued. "Anybody that knows and has followed Steph's career, you know ever since he's left Minnesota, he's been in envy -- for whatever reason -- of Kevin Garnett. It's kinda fun, though, because out of all the things -- he has like, what, three kids, a big family, a wife, bills -- but I'm on his mind every day. It's kind of flattering. It's like a girl -- I'm on his mind like a girl." Wolves coach Flip Saunders agreed Marbury was not really making a comparison. "To make that type of analogy actually just shows stupidity," Saunders said. "It shows there has to be a different agenda. Steph knows in his heart that if he stayed here, he would have been an All-Star player by now, and he'd have a gold medal around his neck, too. I think deep down he knows that. A lot of people know that. That's why you have people here that are hurt that he left, because they know what he could have had here. "You've got to realize this is the same guy that said he wanted to go play in Madison Square Garden because of the aroma. He meant aura, but he said aroma. So you've got to put everything into perspective."
Regardless of your feelings about Marbury, this article took his quote out of context. He was comparing Stoudamire's current output to Garnett's first year in the league, NOT Garnett today. In other words, Marbury is saying that Stoudamire right now is tons better than Garnett was during his first year. Considering Garnett averaged 10 points and 6 rebounds and wasn't even starting the first part of his rookie season, Marbury isn't far off. The rest of his quote may be idiotic, but right now, Stoudamire is playing better than Garnett did when he came out of high school.
Marbury this year: 8 apg, 3.4 TO, 18.5 FGA Francis this year: 6 apg, 3.9 TO, 17.6 FGA Give Marbury a freaking break, and watch a freaking Suns game this year. You'll see who can move the rock.
