Retired NBA player Stephon Marbury was a very popular point guard in the early 2000s and is still considered one of the most memorable players of his era as a two-time All-Star. Marbury was a massive draw and received signature ‘Starbury’ shoes from 2006 onwards.
He recently appeared on Vernon Maxwell’s Podcast and revealed why his shoes were intentionally priced to be as affordable as they were.
“I mean $14.98, access for all people who couldn’t afford. I come from where I come from. My mom, seven kids, she could afford to do it. We grew up…everything like everybody else from the hood. But I understood the importance of giving back, making sure that we created something that people would be able to attach themselves to.”
“My ideology is to treat people the way you want to be treated and win it back seven-fold. Once we created what we created and we did what we did with Starbury, it went all over the planet. It was cornering the market, selling shoes and clothes that are an affordable price for black people who can’t afford Michael Jordan shoes.”
The Starbury shoe brand was a flash-in-the-pan, with the popularity of his affordable shoes fading away almost instantly after Marbury decided to play the rest of his career in China. However, the launch of the Starbury shoes generated over a million sales, primarily due to the shoe’s affordability and enduring popularity in China.
Marbury played 13 seasons in the NBA, averaging 19.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 7.6 assists over a career where he represented the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, and Boston Celtics.
His signature shoe is nowhere to be found anymore despite his trying to price it low to ensure everyone had access to it. Meanwhile, the overpriced Jordans that Marbury has repeatedly called out in his career continue to sell millions of pairs and gross over a billion dollars annually.
Shaquille O’Neal Also Wanted To Make Signature Sneakers Affordable
Making an affordable alternative to the $100 or 200 dollar sneakers is important as not every basketball fan can afford to spend that much on a pair of shoes. Marbury did that with his shoe, but even before him, one of the NBA’s biggest superstars Shaquille O’Neal did the same, selling his signature shoe for $29 to ensure they were affordable for all.
“No, no no… But everything happens for a reason. I think it was a blessing in disguise. She was right. We shouldn’t be charging these babies over $100, $200, $250. The babies that are wearing them, can’t afford them. Personally, as a 49-year-old man, I felt ashamed selling my babies shoes (for) $160, $180, $200. I know a lot of kids get teased for wearing my shoes. But if you look at my shoes, they don’t look like they cost $29 and I take pride in that.”
A player of Shaq’s stature and appeal making affordable shoes is far more impactful than what Marbury did, as wearing Shaq shoes still meant you were repping one of the best players in the NBA. But O’Neal’s success will selling affordable signature sneakers is what proved the concept for what Marbury would go on to do himself.
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