Stephon Marbury has never been one to mince his words.
He wasn’t when he played in the NBA, he wasn’t when he left the NBA for the CBA and he hasn’t been since he retired from the CBA. He’s always spoken how he feels.
Marbury delivered an eyebrow-raising message on Complex’s Load Management podcast when he was asked how he felt about how people in and around the NBA were reacting to Kobe Bryant’s death.
Bryant was one of the most polarizing figures in NBA history and Marbury, his 1996 draft classmate, knows that. That’s why he said he’s so surprised people are reacting with almost universal reverence.
"I see so many people saying so many great things about Kobe and they hated Kobe…" @StarburyMarbury is not here for that fake Kobe love.
Listen🎧: https://t.co/ec3udlVTEy pic.twitter.com/ZvrrZ01mkw
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) March 10, 2020
“I see so many people saying so many great things about Kobe and they hated Kobe and I’m like “hmm, this is interesting.
A few moments later in the podcast, Marbury called out LeBron James specifically for saying he’d be one of the players to carry on Bryant’s legacy in the NBA.
“You don’t need to go get guys like LeBron to go speak and talk about what they’re going to carry and all of that. He don’t need you to carry his legacy. His legacy is already his legacy. You don’t do that. Carry your own legacy. Keep it popping and going. You not no real Laker. The real Laker fans are real laker fans. And real Laker players. So when you hear these guys saying this type of stuff and doing these type of things, I’m wondering what is it for?”
Ouch. Those are pretty harsh words for James — especially with James being the one trying to bring comfort to Lakers fans.
Marbury clearly feels a close attachment to his former draft classmate. But he’s probably doing a bit too much here.
[jwplayer kpfTL1bi-q2aasYxh]