Fresh off a third Chinese Basketball Association title, Stephon Marbury gave the New York Post some insider information on soon to be lottery pick — Emmanuel Mudiay.
Mudiay, who skipped out on attending SMU to play professionally in China — recently matched up with the former NBA All-Star.
Marbury says Mudiay “has his own style” and “will play at a high level in the NBA.”
Fresh off a third Chinese Basketball Association title, Stephon Marbury weighed in on the Knicks’ potential draft pick, fellow CBA point guard Emmanuel Mudiay, calling the mystery prospect a player who is “going to be really good.’’
The 6-foot-5 Mudiay has the tools to be an All-Star, Marbury believes. The Dallas product turned down a scholarship from Larry Brown and SMU to play one season in China to prepare for the NBA draft. Mudiay is projected as a top-four pick while the Knicks are assured a pick within the top five.
Marbury, who had a postage stamp issued in his honor Saturday, got the better of Mudiay in their head-to-head meeting in the CBA semifinals last month. Mudiay, who turned 19 in March, played for Guangdong, but when he faced Marbury, he was just returning from a long absence due to an ankle injury.
“He’s a kid who is going to be really good, has a big upside,’’ Marbury said. “He’s got real potential, started at 18. He can play at a high level. It’s about the people around [him], and who he surrounds himself with is important to what goes on in his career.’’
Marbury, 38 — who had a postage stamp made in his honor — offered his own scouting report.
“He’s got his own style — fast,’’ Marbury said. “He’s got a little bit of everybody’s game. What I like about him is he can jump and he’s big, too, a big guard, more of a tweener. He can’t really shoot that well right now, but he’s got point-guard skills, sees the floor really well. He’s definitely an NBA player. The question that teams want to know is if he’ll be impactful for the organization before they invest the top pick. I gave him advice — stay on the right path.’’