As the Big Apple loomed outside the plane window, Stephon Marbury's heart felt heavier than he expected.
He had mixed feelings. On one hand, he was nervous—after all, this was New York, and the Knicks weren't the same team he left behind. They were the hottest team in the league, led by Lin Yi, the new darling of Madison Square Garden. Marbury knew all too well how the city could worship a star, and right now, Lin was the unquestioned king of New York basketball.
On the other hand, Marbury couldn't hide his excitement. After years in China, after countless sleepless nights replaying the mistakes of his past, he was finally back. Back in the NBA. Back where it all began.
He thought about the lessons he had carved into himself overseas—discipline without losing spirit, bravery tempered by reason, optimism rooted in reality. He wasn't the same man who left in anger years ago.
So, before stepping into the Knicks' training facility, Marbury straightened his jacket, lifted his chin, and forced a smile that was equal parts nervous and determined. Old Levi, the longtime doorman, opened the glass door and froze.
"...Steph? Is that really you?" Levi blinked, half-expecting the same arrogant kid who used to breeze past him without a word.
"Levi, long time no see." Marbury's voice was calm, even warm. "How've you been?"
The doorman's jaw nearly hit the floor. This… this can't be the same Marbury.
Inside the practice hall, Lin Yi had already warned his teammates about what was coming. The rookies didn't think much of it—names like Marbury were just stories to them—but the older players exchanged uneasy glances well except for Shaq. The man has seen it all.
For them, Marbury wasn't a name. He was history. He was the teammate people whispered about as the difficult guy who could blow up a locker room faster than a bad loss.
Even Coach D'Antoni, sipping on his coffee on the sideline, couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. The Stephon Marbury who walked in looked… humble?
Morning training rolled on. Marbury mostly worked on light drills, stretching, and recovery movements, his body still fighting the jet lag. When the whistle blew for a water break, Lin Yi wandered over with his bottle in hand.
"So," Lin asked, lowering his voice, "how's it feel being back?"
Marbury wiped sweat from his forehead and gave a short nod. "Feels right."
Lin studied him for a moment. "It might take some time to settle in with the locker room. You know how it is."
Marbury gave a small laugh. "Doesn't matter. Talk is cheap. I'll let my game do the convincing."
Lin nearly choked on his sports drink. Was this really Marbury talking?
He clapped the veteran on the shoulder, nodding his head in content. He liked the fire and composure.
By the end of the session, even the Knicks' players weren't sure what to make of him.
"Wait a minute," O'Neal muttered, scratching the back of his head more in confusion than in shock. "Didn't somebody tell me Marbury was impossible to deal with? This guy seems… fine."
Lin raised an eyebrow at Shaq. "Come on, Shaq. If anyone should know how to get along with all kinds of teammates, it's you."
"Oh?" O'Neal grinned, puffing out his chest.
Lin smirked but didn't push it further, partly because of the faint ache in his back reminding him not to tempt the big man. Too many Shaq Splashes.
Outside the gym, the world wasn't nearly as forgiving. The New York media lit up like Times Square. Columns popped up instantly: The Knicks must be out of their minds. Stephon Marbury? Again?
Knicks fans were no kinder. To them, this was the same locker room cancer who'd burned bridges before. The move made no sense.
Donnie Walsh, the Knicks' general manager, bore the brunt of the outrage. Again. This season, he was either apologizing, bracing himself for backlash, or soaking up praise. At this point, he almost welcomed the blame. Every time he got roasted, it seemed to swing back in his favor eventually.
Marbury, of course, heard the noise.
"Don't worry about it," Lin Yi told him after practice. "You're not here for them. You're here for you. Prove it on the court, and everything else will take care of itself."
He stopped for a moment, realizing how cliché his words sounded. Marbury didn't need a pep talk. He was tougher than that.
Marbury's eyes burned with quiet intensity. "Truth is like flint. The harder you strike it, the brighter it shines."
Lin blinked, then chuckled softly. The man was going all philosophical.
And sure enough, it didn't take long for Marbury to win people over in the locker room. His teammates loved hearing his stories about his travels—the packed gyms, the fans who treated him like family, the strange foods he'd grown to love. There was a sincerity in his voice that surprised everyone.
Lin knew Marbury's NBA return was temporary, maybe just half a season. But he also knew how much it meant. If Marbury could achieve even a fraction of his dream in these final months, then when he eventually walked back through the streets of Beijing, he'd do so as a man who found peace with both sides of his basketball journey.
For now, though, Marbury still had a bigger battle—adjusting to the time difference.
...
On February 7th, the Knicks went head-to-head with the 76ers once again—and came out on top.
But this time, Philadelphia wasn't nearly as reckless as they had been in the previous game. After stubbornly trying to challenge Tyson-Yi straight up last time, they weren't about to repeat the same mistake. No more charging headlong into a wall.
Heroes? Forget it. They had learned.
And with that win, the Knicks extended their streak to thirteen straight victories.
"The Knicks have now won thirteen in a row!" Kenny Smith's voice rang out with genuine excitement. "Historically, only three teams have managed two separate winning streaks of fifteen games in a single season. The Knicks are putting themselves in a position to become the fourth. This is rare territory."
Charles Barkley, ever the skeptic, leaned forward and frowned. "But Kenny… history also tells us something else. Apart from the Bucks, the other two teams that did it came up short when it mattered most. They didn't win the championship."
Kenny groaned, covering his face with both hands. "Charles, you sound like a Knicks fan who's been scarred for twenty years. Can't you let people enjoy the ride for a second?"
But Barkley wasn't exactly pulling that thought out of thin air. His concern was rooted in what he saw as a questionable move—Stephon Marbury joining the team right after Shaun Livingston's injury. To Barkley, that midseason shake-up looked less like a boost and more like a potential stumbling block.
And in a way, Barkley wasn't entirely wrong. Whether fans wanted to admit it or not, this was going to be a turning point.
..
February 9th, 2011.
Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks welcomed the Clippers to New York, just days before the All-Star break. The league schedule-makers probably knew what they were doing—pitting Lin Yi against Blake Griffin right before the weekend showcase was bound to grab attention.
This was also the night Marbury would officially suit up in a Knicks jersey again, wearing No. 96. He explained to Lin Yi before tipoff that it wasn't just a number.
"I'm part of the '96 Golden Generation,'" he said. "And I want to prove I can still live up to that name."
On the other side, Blake Griffin was now the face of the Clippers. In just half a season, he had become their clear leader, averaging nearly 24 points and 12 rebounds while even sneaking in the occasional three-pointer. His thunderous dunks and high-octane play had earned him the nickname The White Beast.
But whenever Griffin ran into Lin Yi, the story was the same: heartbreak.
For Griffin, Lin Yi wasn't just another opponent. He was the measuring stick. The guy he had to surpass if he was ever going to be more than a highlight machine. Tonight, Griffin told himself, would be the night he finally got the better of him.
Except… it didn't quite go that way.
From the very first quarter, Lin Yi's length and shooting touch made the matchup almost unfair.
Griffin tried contesting, but Lin Yi rose over him with ease.
"Come on, Blake, block this one. If you get me once, I'll give you the win!" Lin Yi grinned as he let another jumper fly.
"Man, shooting over you is like practice. Too easy."
Lin Yi didn't let up with the trash talk, whether the shots fell or not. To Griffin's credit, Lin Yi's touch was a bit cold early on; otherwise, the night could've gotten ugly fast.
Still, after one quarter, the Knicks led 28–22.
..
At the start of the second quarter, Marbury checked in. The moment was met with a strange sound—a ripple of faint boos weaving through Madison Square Garden.
Marbury didn't flinch. He simply cupped his hands, blew warm air into them, and muttered under his breath: "Garden… I'm back."
From the bench, Danilo Gallinari looked uneasy. "Is he… is he gonna be alright out there? I remember what it felt like getting booed as a rookie. Not fun."
Lin Yi shook his head calmly. "Don't worry about him. He's tougher than you think. This isn't his first storm."
And right away, Marbury showed exactly what Lin Yi meant.
On his very first possession, he pushed the ball up the floor, swung it to Danny Green, and then set a hard screen to free Green for a layup.
The Garden blinked.
Was that Marbury… setting a screen?
Moments later, he zipped a pass to Wilson Chandler for a clean jumper. Then another dish—this time to Whiteside under the rim.
It wasn't flashy, it wasn't ego-driven—it was basketball done the right way.
Marbury finally took an open three himself. It rimmed out. The crowd exhaled. On his next attempt, though, the shot splashed home. The arena buzzed with surprise.
On the bench, Mike D'Antoni nodded in approval. Marbury wasn't here to reinvent the Knicks. But he could steady the second unit, keep the offense flowing, and give the team just enough breathing room while Livingston recovered. That alone was valuable.
Meanwhile, Lou Williams got cooking, hitting jumper after jumper, pushing the Clippers into a timeout. For a moment, it looked like déjà vu—just like last year, when the Knicks dismantled Chicago.
And then, faint at first, a chant rose in the Garden.
"Welcome home, Stephen."
It wasn't everyone. It wasn't even loud. But it was there.
Marbury sat on the bench, breathing hard, sweat dripping down his face. Lin Yi walked over, gave his shoulder a firm squeeze, and said quietly:
"This is home now."
And for the first time in a long time, Marbury allowed himself a small, genuine smile since coming to New York.
...
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