Starbury won't play this season...

[Roy Hobbs]

No, this isn't a surprise.  It's funny that Starbury is making it sound like he had a choice, and it was his decision to sit out, though.  I think the mental breakdown and terrible reputation had more to do with it than his personal choice.  Anyway:

Stephon Marbury says he has "shut everything down" and has no plans to play this season, but expects to return to the NBA in 2010-11, the New York Post reported.

Marbury, who played part of last season with the Boston Celtics after his messy divorce from the New York Knicks ended with a buyout, went unsigned as a free agent this offseason after turning down Boston's $1.3 million veteran minimum offfer.

"I'm resting, doing what Michael Jordan did, enjoy life, do things I haven't done in 16 years, keep building my empire," Marbury said, according to the Post. "I wasn't going to Boston for that money. It was a prudent business decision to take off this year."

Link.

What exactly is it that he's "shutting down"?  Was he working out at all?  It seemed like his summer was spent eating Vaseline, shouting at fans, smoking weed, and attacking Paul Pierce.

The only interesting thing is that it suggests that there was a contract offer from the Celtics on the table at one time, which presumably pre-dated the craziness.

[ACF]

"... keep building my empire"? Hmmmm. What empire is that, Steph? The empire for the delusional?

[BigDanz2000]

The NBA has just lost its greatest marketing ad and motivational tool.  Rookies and Veterans alike now have an example to NOT follow. 

Is Marbury Serious?  He compared himself to Jordan.  Last I knew, when Adonis Jordan took a break from the league, it was for good.  Marbury I hope your lunacy follows that path.  Your horse is dead and beaten.  Adios.

[ToppersBsktball10]

what an idiot.

[PaulPierce34G]

I'm going to say that I really wanted him back in a C's uniform.  But after all his actions & words over the past couple of months, I'm glad he was thinking about the money when he rejected Boston's offer.  Oh well, hopefully he can get his mind right & have 1 more ride around with a team...though it seems highly unlikely.

[BudweiserCeltic]

$10 that he'll be looking to get back into the league by the trade deadline.

[Mike-Dub]

Starbury not only isn't going to play this season but he's never going to play again in the NBA and quite frankly I'm glad... The guy is a punk-*****... I'm so glad we have Eddie, Marquis, and Lester to work as our backup pg instead of Starbury!!

[GroverTheClover]

I don't think anyone will miss him. He dug his own grave.

[Greenbean]

Prudent business decision?!?

He turned down 1.3 million dollars for...empire building? I give up.

I am pretty sure getting paid over a million dollars to play basketball is the wise business decision.

Edit: This is asuming there ever really was an offer.

[Bahku]

I truly believe Marbury is done with the NBA, (barring a miracle of injury vacancies), and more importantly, the NBA is done with him. He was extremely lucky to get the playing time he did last year, and I for one, will not miss him in the least. I feel sorry for some players with similar histories, but Stephon created most of his problems himself, and needs to take responsibility for them. Adios.

[shookones99]

What exactly is it that he's "shutting down"?  Was he working out at all?  It seemed like his summer was spent eating Vaseline, shouting at fans, smoking weed, and attacking Paul Pierce.

HAHAHA.  That was great


Im actually disappointed by this.

 I would have loved to see him catch on somewhere (thank god it's not us).  He clearly can't play anymore.  But as his skills have declined he has become more and more entertaining.  It's too bad we are gonna have to go a full year without Steph.  Although I'm sure he will find a way to get his name back in the news at some point during this NBA season.

[bdm860]

Don't be so hard on Steph, after all taking a break while waiting for an offer on par with what he deserves worked out well for Latrell, oh wait.

[Greenbean]

Don't be so hard on Steph, after all taking a break while waiting for an offer on par with what he deserves worked out well for Latrell, oh wait.

Dont be so hard on Latrell..he was just trying to feed his family

[SamuelAdams]

Big mistake, he was already rusty from his previous time off.

[Brickowski]

His NBA career is over.