Marion to retire

[95pro]

A lot of mixed feelings for the Matrix on this board. But I enjoyed his game, especially the dunks and great defense.

 

[SirStefan32]

Best part of the article was this:

"I'm a role player now. I became a superstar in Phoenix."

He was always so full of himself. I liked his game, I liked him as a player, and I think he should be in the ROH, but he always thought very highly of himself.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Loved Marion the on-court whirling dervish, tolerated Marion the off-court the sulking malcontent (maybe that's a bit harsh).

Either way, he was still one of my favorite players and I fully expect him to be in the Ring of Honor soon.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Absolutely one of my all time favorite players... Never really saw him as "full of himself", or a "malcontent"... I really liked his confidence and passion, and of course, his unique style and incredible athleticism.

Would love to see him up in the ROH!

 

[95pro]

Yeah ROH worthy

 

[JCSunsfan]

Yes. Actually, Marion could have made more of himself if he had thought a little less of himself.

Still loved to watch him play. Complete game.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Yes. Actually, Marion could have made more of himself if he had thought a little less of himself.

Still loved to watch him play. Complete game.

As a Sun, he averaged over 18 points per game and 10 boards. Not shabby at all...

 

[Ronin]

going to miss watching him play.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Absolutely one of my all time favorite players... Never really saw him as "full of himself", or a "malcontent"... I really liked his confidence and passion, and of course, his unique style and incredible athleticism.

Would love to see him up in the ROH!

Exactly...How would anyone else feel if they flirted as trade bait season after season. I think any attitude he may have shown was justified. He always seemed like a good teammate, too, and nothing negative ever came out of the locker room. I loved Marion and wish he could have played out his entire career in Phx.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Exactly...How would anyone else feel if they flirted as trade bait season after season. I think any attitude he may have shown was justified. He always seemed like a good teammate, too, and nothing negative ever came out of the locker room. I loved Marion and wish he could have played out his entire career in Phx.

Agreed. Also, I was very bitter at the way some of the local reporters set Marion up repeatedly. They'd list all of his attributes, every stat that showed well for him and after all of that they'd inevitably ask the loaded question. Something along the lines of "does it bother you that you do so much for this team but everyone looks at Amare and Nash as the stars".

Marion was a nice guy but he wasn't the quickest or deepest thinker and he'd always respond with something that would make him look like an egotistical fool when presented without context. Eventually he started believing this junk himself and "disrespected" became his theme song but it was a setup all the way.

Steve

 

[Rab]

ROH for sure. Statically he was one of the best players to wear a Suns jersey. He had a major impact on the floor and really did go overlooked at times. I look forward to seeing him honored here when the time comes. Say what you want about the attitude at times...he was a big part if what made this team exciting.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Yeah, malcontent was maybe a bit harsh for a description for Marion but he certainly had a bit of an inferiority complex during those peak years. I'll give him credit for not letting it affect his on court play whatsoever though. He was the one guy that brought it day in and day out with those teams.

 

[BC867]

Marion was a nice guy but he wasn't the quickest or deepest thinker and he'd always respond with something that would make him look like an egotistical fool when presented without context. Eventually he started believing this junk himself and "disrespected" became his theme song but it was a setup all the way.

Steve

You're right. To talk with Marion, he wasn't the brightest bulb in the chandelier.

I wonder if the Suns assigned a brighter player to guide him and, if so, why it didn't work.

But he was a solid Small Forward. Not as solid as Larry Nance before him. But then he wasn't 6'10".

 

[AZCrazy]

Nance and Maurice Lucas were an intimidating pair back then.

Anyway, congrats on a great career to Marion. He was considered the first 'dumb' pick of that draft, when everyone questioned the Suns and rolled their eyes. Reminded me then of the Majerle pick that had people openly laughing at the Suns ten years before. The Suns ended up with the last laugh in both cases.

 

[sunsfan88]

Man if only we could go back in time and NOT trade him for Shaq even if it meant he walked after the season...

 

[chickenhead]

Yeah, I agree that most of Marion's egotism and bitterness was mostly foot-in-mouth stuff. Kind of reminds me of how Walt Frazier (who otherwise has a very different personality than Marion) can't let the "Willis Reed Game" be mentioned without spouting his own great stat line. The people who need to know, know.

All in all, Marion was very appreciated by the fans and maxed out by the franchise. The grumbling was a bit unfortunate.

 

[Chaplin]

I was a big fan of Marion, but I was irked with the rumors that we couldn't get Garnett because Marion supposedly didn't want to go to Boston.

 

[Mainstreet]

I was a big fan of Marion, but I was irked with the rumors that we couldn't get Garnett because Marion supposedly didn't want to go to Boston.

That might be an irritant.

However, a lot of Suns fans had grown weary of Marion not being able to play like a PF and guard players like Dirk Nowitzki. This was a role which was totally unfair as he was a SF.

 

[Chaplin]

That might be an irritant.

However, a lot of Suns fans had grown weary of Marion not being able to play like a PF and guard players like Dirk Nowitzki. This was a role which was totally unfair as he was a SF.

Except that Marion guarded the PF position better than our actual PF, so there wasn't much he could do about it.

 

[Mainstreet]

Except that Marion guarded the PF position better than our actual PF, so there wasn't much he could do about it.

This is true which lead to higher expectations for Marion which was unfortunate because many fans could not understand his limitations in guarding taller PFs.

 

[95pro]

Marion could truly guard 1-4

 

[Covert Rain]

His ego got the better of him IMO and he felt he could or should be the man. I know it's hotly debated but I still believed he had a hand in nixing a trade with KG which could have paid off huge for the Suns. I couldn't wait for him to get out of here towards the end. IMO he let his success go to his head. There were rumors that's why he was constantly on the block at the end....his ego was too inflated.

Having said that I loved the Matrix. I will always appreciate what he did here and he will always be one of my favorite players. I remember on draft night my brother and I watching the draft selection. They showed some UNLV footage. I looked at my brother and said that guy can jump out of the gym....he might be a great pick. My brother said...meh...he won't amount to much. I never let him forget it. LOL.

 

[slinslin]

He is probably deserving of the Ring of Honor but so is Jason Kidd and there is no talk of Kidd getting in so far.

Suns set a dangerous example with inducting fringe candidates like Dan Majerle.

 

[Covert Rain]

He is probably deserving of the Ring of Honor but so is Jason Kidd and there is no talk of Kidd getting in so far.

Suns set a dangerous example with inducting fringe candidates like Dan Majerle.

I don't know about Kidd. I think the incident with his wife killed that. I think it would be more dangerous for the Suns to put him in the ring from a PR perspective. Plus Kidd had a name BEFORE the Suns and did some things after. I could easily see him for example being honored on another team.

Dan Majerle was a Sun from the get go and had a pretty good career. Completely two different scenarios IMO.

To your point, based on the current standards, Marion should probably get in. However, I would really like to see the Suns stop putting guys into the ROH (the exception NASH). The reason being is we have no titles. If this team ever starts getting over the hump and winning titles, that Ring is going to get really crowded really fast. IMO.

I have always had mixed feeling about the Suns putting people in there that never delivered a ring. It almost seems more of an appeasment to fans and their favorite players. Although I acknowledge we have had some really great players that should be honored. Like I said...mixed feelings. I just think maybe the Suns standards should be higher.

 

[slinslin]

Kidd is a 4x allstar, 3x all-nba first teamer in a row, 2x all-nba defensive 1st team for the Suns

Holds franchise records, the team won 50+ each year except in the lockout season.

He HAS to be in, in 50 years there will not be many Suns with better individual accolades than Kidd.
Trading him away was stupid, he should have been a Sun for 10+ years. Though I can't say I was against it at the time. The team constantly failed to take the next step in the playoffs, Jason Williams lit him up at times in the playoffs and fans got frustrated with his lack of shooting.

In hindsight I am pretty sure that no Suns fan would do that trade again or blame Kidd as much as we did back then. Kidd was the whipping boy but we never really even put a great team around him. Marion and Cliff Robinson were his best teammates.

Kidd did not really have a name before the Suns. He came into his own as a Sun before he was just a good young player.


In terms of Ring of Honor worthiness I would rate the candidates

1. Nash 2x MVP, 3xFirst Team, 2x Second Team 6x Allstar, 5x NBA Assist Leader
2. Kidd 3x First Team, 2x Defensive First, 4x Allstar, 3x NBA Assist Leader
3. Amare 1x First Team, 2x Second Team, 5x Allstar, ROY
4. Marion 2x 3rd Team, 4x Allstar

All locks.