Marbury hopes to finish off career back in NBA

Phoenix trial begins for players accused of assault

NEW YORK, Sept 14, (AP): Stephon Marbury hopes to finish off his basketball career back in the NBA.

The 40-year-old guard is playing in the Chinese Basketball Association this season for the Beijing Fly Dragons and when the league ends in February or March he wants to join an NBA franchise.

“I’ve spoken to a team,” Marbury told The Associated Press in a phone interview from Malaysia on Wednesday night. “It’s still premature right now, but I’m open to coming back and trying to play that veteran leadership role . ... For myself it’s a perfect ending being able to mend ties. It will be a team that I will be able to help and I’m looking forward to it. It’s a great opportunity to be at my age to be able to hoop. I’m thankful for that. A lot of people can’t walk at my age.”

Marbury, who first mentioned his interest in playing in the NBA again on Instagram , didn’t want to disclose which team he had discussions with.

“The opportunity, it’s a great opportunity because I was anticipating retiring in Beijing with the Ducks,” he said. “It’s the perfect opportunity to go back. I want to do this for the people who had been supporting me for so many years.”

Marbury had a 13-year NBA career playing for the Timberwolves, Nets, Suns, Knicks and Celtics. The No. 4 pick in the 1996 draft, Marbury hasn’t played in an NBA game since the 2008-09 season with the Boston Celtics. He averaged 19.3 points and 7.6 assists during his NBA career.

He’s spent the last nine years playing in China and helped the Beijing Ducks win three championships. Marbury met with NBA commissioner Adam Silver in China last October and has had positive meetings in New York with the league and with the Knicks.

“I wanted to make sure things are right before I made that decision to go back to the NBA. The timing is right and the exit strategy is a good one,” he said.

Jury selection in the aggravated assault trial of NBA twin brothers Marcus and Markieff Morris concluded Wednesday after the eight-member panel was chosen.

Opening statements will be delivered Monday for what is expected to be a 10-day trial.

The Morris brothers were indicted by an Arizona grand jury in 2015. They are accused of helping three other people beat 36-year-old Erik Hood outside a Phoenix recreation center.

Two of the other co-defendants pleaded guilty Wednesday to aggravated assault charges.

Police say Hood was leaving a high

In this March 21, 2010 file photo, Stephon Marbury of China North team drives the ball down the court against Liu Wei of China South team, during

the China Basketball Association’s all-star game in Beijing. (AP)

school basketball game when he was approached by a friend of the Morris brothers. Hood told Phoenix police the man was speaking to him when he was punched in the back of the head.

Hood ran to his car but fell down before five men, including the Morris twins, punched and kicked him repeatedly, authorities say. All five left in a Rolls Royce Phantom.

Hood told police he sustained a fractured nose, abrasions and a large bump on his head.

Police say it is alleged that Hood was assaulted for sending an inappropriate text message to the Morris brothers’ mother.

Hood is an acquaintance of the Morris brothers and reportedly had a falling-out with them in 2010.

Sacramento Kings forward Zach Randolph was sentenced to community

Randolph initially had been arrested in August on suspicion of possessing marijuana with intent to sell, a felony, but Los Angeles city prosecutors instead charged him with misdemeanor drug possession. Court documents said the 36-year-old Randolph possessed “more than 28.5 grams of marijuana or more than four grams of concentrated cannabis or both.” Randolph also was accused of resisting arrest and obstructing a Los Angeles police officer in the discharge of his or her duties.

Randolph was arrested Aug 9 at the Nickerson Gardens housing project in Watts after officers observed a crowd of people drinking, smoking marijuana, blasting music and blocking streets, police have said.

Josh Richardson will go to Miami Heat training camp later this month with a new contract.

Richardson and the Heat agreed Wednesday on a four-year extension that could be worth $42 million, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press. The fourth year will be at Richardson’s option, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the signing.

The contract goes into effect in the 2018-19 season. Richardson will make about $1.5 million this coming season, and will likely be in the mix of candidates vying for the starting small forward spot with the Heat. The deal was not a surprise, given that Miami officials had indicated repeatedly that they had no plans on letting Richardson go elsewhere. countered with the tag team of Carl and Nigoza. The teams were at a deuce at the end of the first quarter, 14-14.

The energy was sustained in the second quarter as either team moved to surge past the other. The game went slightly in favor of Wayne State at the half, 26-24.

A shift ensued in the third quarter as Barba Cabalen found their rhythm on both offense and defense. Barba was up 42-37, heading into the fourth quarter.

Faced with the possibility of dropping this game, Wayne State turned to Flores who knocked crucial shots in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. Barba countered each shot but Wayne State sent reinforcements in Lingo and Roxas to chip away at the lead. The teams were tied, 54-54, at the end of regulation.

In overtime, Barba turned to Alvaro while Wayne State counted on Cordou, Nigoza, Villanueva, and Roxas. It was anybody’s game until Roxas sank the go-ahead deep three in the waning seconds of the game. Wayne State went on to get the win, 65-63.

Meanwhile, the Non-leaguers Division sizzled with thriller matchups headlined by Boodai vs Kuwait Tigers (71-74), followed by Genesis vs Maranatha (75-69), Kuwait Hunters vs Goto Express (9186) and Posta Plus vs Al Rawda (72-60).

The 35+ Super Fathers Division saw two teams getting a win each: Mandaragit (vs JC Nets/Bad Bananas, 86-81) and D’Barbers (vs Amigos, 9385).

In the Intercompany Division, Climbers overpowered Kalexco Brando Boys (84-79).

Catch more PBLK action every Friday at the Hawally Disabled Sports Club. For more information, please contact Alan Compuesto at 96681557.