The 75 greatest NBA players of the 2000s, ranked

27) Stephon Marbury

Heading into the 2000s, Minnesota Timberwolves star Stephon Marbury seemed like he would be one of the NBA's best players. For a time, he was, averaging at least 20 points per game over the first seven seasons of the decade and making two all-star teams and two all-NBA teams during that span as a member of the New Jersey Nets and Phoenix Suns. 

Despite that strong start to the decade, Marbury's career took a surprising turn after he was traded to the New York Knicks. He feuded with both Isaiah Thomas and Mike D'Antoni as a result of his decreasing role and after four seasons with the Knicks, they told him to stay home.

He was later traded and released before signing with the Boston Celtics, with whom he played 30 games with during the 2008–09 season. Afterwards, he decided to take his talents to China, where he would play eight seasons and become a major star there. 

While that was the unusual way to end an NBA career, Marbury did still average 19.8 points, 7.5 assists, and 1.2 steals in 671 games for the Timberwolves, Nets, Suns, Knicks, and Celtics. That resume is more than strong enough for him to qualify as one of the 30 greatest players of the 2000s.