Over the summer, many were convinced that Steph had finally gone off the deep end, thanks to his internet contributions via Starbury TV. Whether he was eating vaseline, dancing around the crib shirtless or hilariously repeating to his driver,” Don’t worry about it! It ain’t nothin’ but the Devil!” after getting into a car accident, the talk of Steph in recent months has centered more around his mental stability than hoops skills.
Now the next chapter in the Starbury saga begins. On January 27th, he’s expected to suit up for the Shanxi Zhongyu franchise in the Chinese Basketball Association. The pay cut is rather substantial. After earning close to $22 million last year, Steph will now be earning $25,000 per month. (That’s not too bad, at least by my standards as a struggling writer)
But don’t laugh at his supposed free fall. Playing in the Far East opens the door for Steph to expose his Starbury footwear and apparel line in the tremendous Chinese commerce market. The profit potential of gaining a foothold in that lucrative setting could prove to be one of the shrewdest maneuverings in recent sports business.
On Shanxi’s Web site, Steph insisted that the language barrier will not present a problem.
“I’ll communicate with the fans through my basketball,” he said. “I think this will be a unique experience. To go overseas to play ball, to live, for me it’s a challenge.”
While many wish he’d simply go away at this point, I’m still rooting for the guy. Yo Steph, good luck. And here’s hoping that somebody is out there with cameras rolling, documenting the whole experience. I can promise that, given Steph’s unique outlook and personality, it’s sure to be entertaining.
And in case you forgot and want to clown my man, did you ever put in in like this?
Or like this?
Thought Not!
January 19th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
True balla says:
wow, who would have ever thought Starbury would make less money for playing ball than Homicide and other streeball players that are overseas
January 19th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
True balla says:
also, i remember that alley-oop that is at the 2:00 minute mark. that was just ridiculous
January 19th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
ali says:
true balla,
steph had offers for substanially more money by other overseas teams. this was, in no way, the best salary offer that he got. there were overtures from teams in israel and greece for way more.
i think he held out, thinking more would materialize. and when presented with the opportunity to attempt to market his business to billions of people in asia, he decided to go for this “road less travelled” approach.
January 19th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Elliot Rosado says:
@ True Ball, Steph made 22 million last year he can play for free and still be straight. he’s playing for less because he wants to, not like most strretball players who play for less because they have to.
January 19th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Russ M says:
According to basketball-reference.com Steph has made $151,115,945 in his career.Please, let’s let the financial comparisons end here.
January 19th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
True balla says:
@ Ali, Russ, Elliot – of course ther is no comparison between Starbury and a streetballer when it comes to $$, it’s just interesting to see how careers end up. Your legacy is largely remembered on how you finish your career. Steph is going out nasty in my opinion. PPl like T-mac wish they were healthy like Steph. At the end of the day all of the dudes who were poppin in high school and college that were from NY didnt have consistently long sucessfull careers
K-Sat
Reem
Andre Barret (still kinda young though)
Omar Cook
the other kid from queens that went to UCONN – i cant even remember his name, lol
Eric Barkley
Shamgod
Gary Saunders
Todd Miles
and i’m sure theres like at least 5 more i forgot
I call it the curse of the NYC Point God’s, haha
January 20th, 2010 at 10:25 am
ali says:
@true balla,
lol at “the other kid from uconn”. you’re a funny dude. i think for anyone that truly understands skills, steph will not ultimately be remembered for the end of his tenure with the knicks. there is plenty of evidence of his overall brilliance throughout his tenure in the league.
it is unfortunate that he stands at this crossroads, but his accomplishments cannot be diminished. his numbers suggest that he was an elite point guard in the world’s greatest league. yes, he never won a ring and there was some drama associated with him, but at the end of the day, dude went from the projects to the penthouse with a skill set, desire and work ethic that has enabled him to better his life, as well as his family’s. can’t be mad at that.
and every city has a list of dudes who popped off in high school, played well in college and never got a sniff of the big time. it’s not just a NY thing, nor a curse of the ny point guard. everybody ain’t gonna make it. and some dudes, regardless of how much we attach ourselves to their early accomplishments, are simply not good enough. no shame in that. that’s why whether you play ball or work sanitation, be the best you can and enjoy the journey. nothing is promised.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Russ M says:
Just because a point guard, or any player at any position for that matter, doesn’t make it to the league doesn’t mean that his b-ball carreer was a failure. Just doing work at the D1 level is a hell of an accomplishment. So if you were to acknowledge this, I think that you’d have to say that the success of the NYC point guard is unequaled.
January 20th, 2010 at 11:09 am
Elliot Rosado says:
@ Tru Balla, I feel you to a certain extent with Steph & T Mac. But I don’t think you can say any of these guy’s on your list are cursed or have failed. 6 of those guys were Mc’donald’s all american’s. How many people can say that? They all have played or went to an NBA camp which is another thing not to many can say. The only thing is that when your as good as these players at such a young age the only way to go is down. By the way thoses guy’s on that list would make for a great roundtable discussion. Bounce make that happen. Matter of fact let me host it. LOL!
January 20th, 2010 at 11:19 am
trayBAGZ!! says:
LMFAO @ TONY PARKER AND YAO MING FALLING ON THEY A$$……
January 20th, 2010 at 11:41 am
ali says:
word up elliot and russ. ya’ll both make excellent points.
January 20th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
True balla says:
@elliot, ali & russ
Touche’
January 20th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
ali says:
yo trey bagz, tony parker and yao in the 2nd youtube clip look like they were on the wrong end of smokin’ joe frazier’s left hook. their whole mental wiring and body mechanics just shut down!
January 20th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Jeremy Ripley a.k.a. Cheesecake says:
That Vlade Divac fake is my first and favorite recollection of Steph. (I need a Mitchell & Ness #33 Nets jersey.)
Was fascinated by his upbringing in Darcy Frey’s book.
Good luck to him in the east!
January 20th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
funkalot says:
I am a Steph fan forever. As has been said, he was one of the best PGs in the league during his time. He put up 19ppg and 8a for a career (more than respectable), in spite of Danfoni’s and the Knicks’ debacle last season.
Steph is 20th all-time in assists. Oh, by the way the legacy of the NY Point God is secure, as 6 of the top 20 leaders in assists all-time hail from the Apple (Jackson, Strickland, Wilkens, Cousy, Archibald and Steph), pretty good company.
Lastly,Kudos to Steph for never kowtowing and being a maverick. I have always respected his no-conformist positions, to achieve what he felt was right for him. I wish President Obama adopted such a philosophy. Oops, I digress.
Good luck in the Land of the Rising Sun, son.
Ps. Although, “Land of the rising Sun” is a reference to Japan, it made for an interesting finish. LOL son!
January 21st, 2010 at 10:24 am
Mr.Browneyes says:
Despite the etreme and excessive vitriol against this man he is still one of the few success stories of N.Y.C and Brooklyn in particular. Lest we not forget Steph’s contribution to his community and charitable efforts. With that being said, basketball is why we are here and here is my opinion on said topic. Stephon should go down as one of the best point guards to play the game. “No Im not drinking the kool-aid…lol. But its the truth. His game is complete. (okay he could play a tad bit more D). But he posessed all the gifts that you could ever request out of a floor general. Unfortunately like many of the greats he never reached the promised land of the N.B.A. Finals. Does this not make him great? His career averages are 20 ppg and 8 apg. I know numbers mean nothing when you arent affiliated with a winner but still numbers do speak for themselves. Could he have been a nicer teammate sure. Could he have been a tad less arrogant? Maybe. But that would take away from who he is and probably what got him here. I for one who is a Basketball fan and a native from Brooklyn hopes he does well over in the Far East. I hope to see him back in the league next season and “they say absence makes the heart grow fonder” well i hope all the haters will realize what they had in a Point God and welcome him back with open arms!!!!
January 21st, 2010 at 10:42 am
ali says:
cheesecake, that divac move was strictly some delectable playground hot sauce. i was not a particular fan of frey’s book, i guess because i thought it was presented with, what i perceived, an outsider’s paternalism and arrogance that was slanted. maybe i’m a little more sensitive than most because my brooklyn and nyc upbringing, but the conclusions seemed surface, lacking depth, understanding and compassion, lacking the nuance of someone who actually knows what it’s like, i.e. the true essence of the environment that steph incubated in. nah’mean?
and funk, you continue to bring the funkiness, as usual.
January 21st, 2010 at 10:15 pm
Jeremy Ripley a.k.a. Cheesecake says:
Hey Ali,
That’s a good point and one I hadn’t considered.
I liked Frey’s prose, especially the way he described Stephon’s mastery of the game – even at a tender age in a tense environment.
Here’s a follow up to the book from ‘04, written by Frey.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/15/magazine/the-way-we-live-now-2-15-04-betrayed-by-the-game.html?pagewanted=1
January 22nd, 2010 at 2:46 pm
ali says:
@ mr browneyes, i couldn’t have said it any better.
January 22nd, 2010 at 5:18 pm
ali says:
hey cheesecake,
i remember reading that a while back. the kid’s suicide was tough. and there are many who are heartbroken when the dream is exposed as an illusion. that’s why we need to be adamant in presenting the other side of the coin to each and every good high school player who swears that all-american and lottery status is promised.
January 22nd, 2010 at 5:29 pm
ali says:
these kids need to learn to USE THE GAME and not let it use them cheesecake. for me, that was the most telling message of frey’s work.
January 24th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
Mr burns says:
It doesn’t matter where you play the game. I wish the best for Stephon out in china. This trip to china might wake him up though. China is nothing like the usa.
January 25th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
ali says:
i hear you mr burns. steph might realize how good he’s had it and might come away with a greater sense of appreciation. the cultural and societal differences abroad can be astounding and humbling.
January 29th, 2010 at 8:30 pm
LowerEastScribe says:
@ Ali,
B4 I became the terrible writer I am today, I was a kid who everyone said “played just like Steph.” I tried my best to model my game after him (And Jason Kidd-passing is fun). By like 14, I mastered that hop-step. I would viscously drive the lane and take off the arm’s of anyone who dared reach in. I even had the first pair of And1’s he had. You remember the silver joints? ah man, you couldn’t tell me I wasn’t Steph! I think you just inspired me Ali. Thanks.
January 31st, 2010 at 2:13 pm
ali says:
@ LES,
if you’re a terrible writer, then the majority of these guys who have some type of name in b-ball journalism, many of whom couldn’t throw a basketball into the ocean, are horrendous. you got skills bro.
and if people were saying that you played like steph at that early age, you must have been putting in work. glad i could inspire you in some small way.
watching those clips really refutes all of the arguments of people, who obviously know little about what it takes to compete at the elite level, who don’t really understand what an incredible player steph was.
February 9th, 2010 at 11:40 am
illest says:
i know there is always a marbury lovefest on this site. but there are plenty of point guards the last 10-15 years i would take over him. now…if he would of stayed in minnesota it would of been different.