Sports Radio Interviews

Shawn Marion: Phoenix Wasn’t Pursuing Me

Shawn has been around the block and now he’s back again.  High-flying success in Phoenix – his unhappiness got him shipped out of ‘Zona – a couple stops later and now he’s back with a winner in Dallas.  There’s an old team in the hands of Mark Cuban – Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Shawn Marion, Josh Howard (almost 30), Erick Dampier, etc.  It’s really astonishing how every competitive team seems to be restructuring their roster in order to go for it; San Antonio, Boston, Dallas, Cleveland, Orlando, and Los Angeles have all attempted to get better.  When you look at the Spurs, Celtics, and Mavs, these are three older teams that are trying to keep that championship window ajar for as many years as possible.  Will they pay for it in a couple years?  There is that chance, but it’s impossible not to happy if you’re a fan of any team mentioned above.  Marion joined KTAR in Phoenix to discuss the Suns’ pursuit of him, why teams can’t run the fast break, and what number he’ll be wearing next year.

Would you have considered the Suns if they signed / traded for you?

“I don’t know if there’s any truth behind it; I don’t think they was pursuing me, man.  I don’t think they was mentioned in any of my calls or any talks with any teams; they never came up.”

Do you think Dallas has the potential to push the ball more like you guys did with the Suns?

“The biggest key when you getting up and down or when you trying run a fast break, you gotta have a point guard that’s gonna give up the ball and pass the ball.  That’s all you really need, is someone to distribute the ball because he gotta be able to see things when he’s in the middle of the court handling the ball that somebody else couldn’t see.  That’s the problem I think that’s been going on – a lot of these teams wanna get up and down the floor but a lot of these guards are not able to do that.  So, I’m saying that, I think that’s why there were so many guards drafted in the first round this year, ’cause a lot of teams don’t have point guards.”

How tough was it to go from winning in Phoenix to losing situations?

“It’s definitely a little tough.  Put it this way, when I left Phoenix and we was winning, and I went to a losing situation that was really tough, but I was excited because it was a new challenge for me.  I’m a competitor so I’m gonna go in and make a bad situation a good situation… At the same time, everything happens for a reason; those were some great experiences.  I met some great guys, went to some great organizations, and went through a losing phase, that’s all it was.”

Jason Terry wears your number, 31, how are you gonna deal with that?

“I think me and him came to an agreement already.  Me and my man, JT (Jason Terry), he’s gonna let me wear 31.”

Listen to Shawn Marion on KTAR in Phoenix

Tags: Basketball, Dallas Mavericks, Jason Terry, NBA, Phoenix Suns, Shawn Marion