Marbury blames Larry Brown for ruining his 2004 Olympics
Stephon Marbury's easygoing approach to the 2004 Olympic Games, paired with Larry Brown's overly-serious coaching style, created a miserable working environment for the former All-Star point guard.
Talking to Complex's Wallace Matthews, Marbury described his Olympic experience as "the worst 38 days of my life," thanks in large part to Brown.
The now 40-year-old recalled the first day of practice with Team USA, with Brown going around the gym asking his players - which included the likes of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Allen Iverson - for their respective goals in the tournament.
"By the time he got to me, everything was said that needed to be said," mentioned Marbury. "So I said, ‘Let’s also not forget that we need to have fun.’ And Larry goes, ‘Huh. Listen to this guy, talking about having fun!’"
Marbury, embarrassed by the remark, didn't appreciate Brown's condescension.
When it was announced the following year that Brown would be joining the New York Knicks as their new coach on a five-year contract, Marbury was anything but on board.
"I begged Isiah (Thomas) not to bring him to the Knicks," he added. "It was just unbearable, man. Nobody wanted to play for him. The whole energy was terrible. But it was the environment he wanted. Misery."
Brown survived just one season in the Big Apple, though, after the Knicks won 23 games in 2005-06.