Photo: 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony/YouTube

Stephon Marbury says his connection to the New York Knicks remains as strong as ever, describing the franchise as his favorite team and saying there is “nothing more important” to him in basketball than seeing the Knicks win a championship.

Speaking with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Marbury reflected on his relationship with Knicks owner James Dolan and their reunion during the 2026 playoffs. Marbury said sitting courtside next to Dolan in Atlanta helped erase the tension surrounding his departure from New York and allowed the two to move forward.

“People thought a lot of different things after I left the Knicks,” Marbury said. “When I came back, nobody knew what to think.” He said Dolan’s decision to have him sit beside him communicated how the owner felt about their relationship.

Marbury played for the Knicks from 2004 through 2008 after joining the franchise in a trade with the Phoenix Suns. He averaged 19.0 points and 7.7 assists in 162 games for New York, according to his NBA career statistics.

The former All-Star said he still views Dolan as a father figure despite the disagreements that surrounded the end of his Knicks tenure. “I love Mr. D like a father figure,” Marbury said, while acknowledging that he made mistakes during that period and emphasizing that he had always remained respectful.

His attachment to the Knicks has remained particularly significant as the franchise reached the NBA Finals in 2026. New York finished the regular season 53-29, third in the Eastern Conference, before defeating Atlanta 4-2, Philadelphia 4-0 and Cleveland 4-0 to reach the Finals.

The Knicks then defeated the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 to win their first NBA championship since 1973. New York won Games 1, 2, 4 and 5, with Game 4 featuring a 29-point comeback that became the largest comeback in NBA Finals history.

Marbury said the championship remains the ultimate objective for the franchise and connected that goal directly to what he believes New York basketball represents.

“I’ve always wanted this team to bring a championship back to New York,” Marbury said. “That’s the ultimate goal and the energy New York deserves.”

“I’m the number one fan,” Marbury said. “There’s nothing more important to me when it comes to basketball than this team.”