APApparently, Stephon Marbury and David Beckham have something in common. Both will be taking their services overseas.
According to a report in the New York Post on Wednesday, Marbury revealed that he will play in Italy when his contract with the New York Knicks is up in two years — and compared himself with the English soccer star.
Marbury, according to the report, expects to make an impact on Italian basketball similar to the hoopla caused by Beckham’s arrival in the United States to play for Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy.
“I’m not just thinking of doing it, I’m going to do it (move to Italy),” Marbury told the newspaper. “My wife loved it there. It’s like a Beckham thing.”
The veteran guard is in the middle of a 38-city bus tour promoting his discounted sneakers. But he also made a trip to Italy with his wife in May and said the couple loved the country.
Marbury, who in the past has been quoted as saying he wants to remain in New York for the rest of his career, seems to think that he will not be leaving a rebuilding Knicks squad hanging when he leaves.
The former All-Star thinks the team is ready to win right now.
“We’re on the verge right now in my mind,” he said.
But when pressed about his loyalty to New York, Marbury admitted that he does not think the Knicks would re-sign him at 32 years old because of his recurring knee tendinitis.
Entering his 12th season, Marbury is owed $20.1 million this season and $21.9 million in 2008-09 from New York, which has struggled to a combined 56-108 mark in its last two campaigns.
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