Marbury May Give Euro Exodus Bad Name

So maybe LeBron and Kobe aren't serious about Europe. It's still the perfect place for a certain kind of player. A player who still has talent to burn, but has all but blacklisted himself from the NBA. Who has an out-of-control ego, but wants to be seen as selfless soul down for the greater good. A revolutionary whose only weapon is his own recklessness.

Stephen Marbury, please come to aisle Italy. According to The Post, Marbury -- who first mentioned Europe before anyone had even heard of Josh Childress -- still has eyes for that country. Maybe bigger ones than ever:

While Marbury plans to play in the NBA this season - with the Knicks New York Knicks or another club if released - he still has plans of an Italian career. In fact, Marbury told The Post he will play as soon as next season, specifically aiming to join Milan.

[...]

"People just didn't understand and didn't know (last summer)," said Marbury. "When I made comments about playing overseas people took it out of perspective, thought I was talking about leaving while still playing for the Knicks. It was turned into something negative about going to Italy. Now it seems it's OK."

I am all for Steph finding inner peace, but isn't it possible that Marbury sets the exodus's good name back four or five years? He's the ultimate outcast, cast-off, bad seed, and problem child. The NBA wanted Childress, but he chose Europe. Same for a few of those Euros. Marbury, he's going to have to beg for a roster spot in the Association once his Knicks deal is up. It's nice to think that D'Antoni will put in a good word for him with Milan (as the article suggests), but still, he'll be a refugee.

And in one fell swoop, going overseas would definitely start to look like a JV move for Team LeBron.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.