Stephon Marbury Talks Basketball and the Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted sports across the world. Leagues are canceling their seasons, and most athletes are without a job, at least for the moment.

Although it’s still unknown when leagues will continue their seasons, athletes like ex-NBA player, Stephon Marbury, are stepping up and doing what they can to help others during these unpleasant times.

https://twitter.com/StarburyMarbury/status/1245493891853209600

Marbury spent 13 seasons years in the National Basketball Association, including five seasons as a New York Knick before he played the Chinese Basketball Association from 2010 to 2018. After retiring, he became a coach in the CBA for the Royal Fighters.

The former two-time NBA All-Star has been busy lately. Marbury has been making plans to supply New York City, which has reported the most cases and deaths caused by the coronavirus, with 10 million N95 masks.

 

“I know that was something that people were saying that people didn’t need, but that’s a strong need,” Marbury said during an interview with ESPN’s The Undefeated.

According to the New York Post, Marbury made a deal with a supplier in China that agreed to sell the masks for $2.75 each, which is almost two-thirds cheaper than the ones sold in the U.S.

“At the end of the day, I am from Brooklyn,” Marbury told The Post. “I have family there in Coney Island, a lot of family…who are affected by this, so I know how important it is for people to have masks during this time.”

Much Respect #StephonMarbury #coronavirus #Covid_19 https://t.co/Gzvp3VPbnv pic.twitter.com/p9JuLyG2Mc

— Etan Thomas (@etanthomas36) March 29, 2020

For Marbury, this is much bigger as he and his family have been affected by the coronavirus. He recently lost his cousin, the brother of former NBA player, Sebastian Telfair, to this deadly virus.

Marbury contacted Brooklyn borough president Eric Adams to help with organizing the sale of masks. In response, city and state officials are telling Adams that they do not need any masks at this time. 

Meanwhile in Basketball

Chinese Basketball Association

 

Now that China is in the process of recovering from the virus. Even though Marbury is hopeful that the CBA will resume its season in late April, the restart of the CBA season still unknown

However, the CBA is planning on continuing its season in early May, but only after the government approves it.

National Basketball Association

 

Marbury reached out to NBA commissioner Adam Silver insisting that he suspend the rest of the NBA season due to the coronavirus.

The NBA has suspended the rest of its game for the regular season. Also, this does not necessarily mean the league is canceling its games. Instead, the league is postponing the games to a later time in the year.

Furthermore, players in the NBA are still expected to get paid for the regular season, but it is still unknown when players will see the court again.