Shawn Marion: Where is former Suns, Mavs star now?
DALLAS (BVM) – From junior college to NBA star. That’s the route Shawn Marion took to becoming one of the NBA’s most dominant players during the 2000s. The journey included multiple All-Star appearances with the Phoenix Suns, and an NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks.
The man nicknamed “The Matrix” left a lasting legacy in the NBA, and has stayed busy with several different endeavors throughout his retirement thus far.
Shawn Marion’s early life, college career
Marion grew up in Waukegan, Illinois, but ended up playing basketball at Clarksville High School in Tennessee. There, he became a first-team all-state player as a senior, averaging over 26 points and 13 rebounds per game.
Despite Marion’s high school success, he started his collegiate career at Vincennes University, a junior college in Indiana. Initially starting at point guard for Vincennes, it was his first two years of college basketball that Marion displayed his versatility and proved he had a bright future in the game.
Marion became an All-American in each of his two seasons with the Trailblazers, averaging over 23 points and around 13 rebounds, while finishing as the program’s second all-time leading scorer.
In 1998, Marion transferred to UNLV for his junior season. Immediately, he showcased his talent on both ends of the floor, averaging 18.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.9 blocks. With many NBA scouts taking notice of Marion’s quick rise, he decided to forgo his senior season and declare for the NBA draft.
Shawn Marion’s NBA career
Marion was selected ninth overall in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns.
In the 1999 NBA Draft, Shawn Marion was selected 9th overall to the Phoenix Suns. #UNLVBasketball pic.twitter.com/mamE4y3rOd
— UNLV Men's Basketball (@TheRunninRebels) June 25, 2015
Despite missing some time with a knee injury, Marion made the NBA-All Rookie second team as he scored 10.2 points per game.
As he gained more playing time, Marion began developing into a potential star over the next few seasons, averaging 17.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in 2000-01, and 19.1 points and 9.9 rebounds in 2001-02. In 2002-03, Marion had one of his best seasons yet, posting 21.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while also averaging a career-best in steals (2.3). As a result, the budding Suns star earned his first All-Star selection, yet again proving his athleticism and versatility.
What a poster from Shawn Marion!🔥
This dunk is slept onpic.twitter.com/8GbA33Pn3a
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 22, 2020
Following another strong campaign in 2003-04, the 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward had some of the best seasons of his career from 2004-2007 playing alongside two-time MVP Steve Nash and another rising star in Amar’e Stoudemire. Marion’s best statistical season during that stretch, and of his career, came during the 2005-06 season in which he averaged 21.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and two steals.
Marion was again named an All-Star in the 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons as the Suns finished near the top of the Western Conference each year, yet could not break through to the NBA Finals, seemingly always being stopped by Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavericks or Tim Duncan’s Spurs.
“The Matrix” would nearly average a double-double in the 47 games he played for the Suns in 2007-08. However, with trade rumors surrounding Marion throughout the first half of the campaign, he sought a deal to leave Phoenix, and was subsequently dealt to the Miami Heat in exchange for Shaquille O’Neal in February 2008.
Marion played in just 58 games with Dwyane Wade’s Heat in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons, and was traded to the Toronto Raptors in February 2009 in exchange for former All-Star forward Jermaine O’Neal.
After 27 games in Toronto where Marion again posted strong numbers, he was dealt in a sign-and-trade to the Dallas Mavericks. In Dallas, Marion made the transition from featured star to role player, as his averages across his five seasons in Dallas dipped to 11.6 points and seven rebounds. However, he played a valuable and pivotal role on many successful Mavs’ teams.
The highlight of the stretch came in 2010-11, as Marion helped the Mavericks to the NBA Finals with a vintage 26-point performance in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals to close out the team’s series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
11 years ago, today.
{Game 5 | West Finals, 2011}
— The Mavericks advance to the
2011 NBA Finals. pic.twitter.com/bqEaexS8JE— MavsMuse (5-3) (@MavsMuse) May 26, 2022
In the NBA Finals against his former team in Miami, Marion put up a 16-point, 10-rebound effort in Game 1, and scored 20 points in an improbable Dallas comeback in Game 2. Marion contributed 11.5 points per game across the final four games of the series, winning a long-awaited NBA championship.
Following his time in Dallas, Marion played one final season with LeBron James in Cleveland in 2014-15 before finally retiring. Across his 16 years in the league, Marion scored 17,700 points and grabbed 10,101 rebounds, finishing with career averages of 15.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks. He became the first player in NBA history to have 15,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 1,000 blocks and 500 threes.
Congrats to @matrix31, the first player in @NBAHistory w/ 15,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 1,000 blocks & 500 threes! pic.twitter.com/UKSaI4WcQL
— NBA (@NBA) December 28, 2014
Shawn Marion’s net worth, personal life and achievements
Marion has one son, Shawn Jr. His net worth is estimated to be around $60 million. Over the course of his 16 years in the NBA, Marion made over $133 million in career earnings.
In 2021, Marion joined former NBA player Nate Robinson on his show “House Guest” to show off what is called his “Matrix Island,” a beautiful property that Marion owns in Dallas.
In addition to his tremendous NBA career in which he became a four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, Marion had the opportunity to represent his country and play for Team USA throughout his career. That included in 2004, where he got to compete in the Olympics in Athens, Greece, taking home a bronze medal.
Shawn Marion’s post-playing life
Marion has lived the good life in retirement while also keeping busy. He has done anything from adding to his guitar collection to water activities like boating, tubing and jet skiing, to even hunting.
The former NBA All-Star has also ran a basketball camp for many years at North Chicago Community High School alongside his sister, Quinnisha.
In 2017, Marion also teamed up with fellow former NBA player Cedric Ceballos for the 30th season of “The Amazing Race.”
Meanwhile, perhaps Marion’s most notable post-playing endeavors have been his investments. In addition to investing in a wine fund with former Suns owner Jerry Colangelo, Marion has also claimed stakes in two sports franchises.
The first is the New Zealand Breakers, a professional team located in New Zealand that plays in the National Basketball League (NBL). Marion became a majority stakeholder of the team in 2018 alongside fellow former NBA player Matt Walsh.
Marion has also been involved with the NBL’s “Next Stars” program which helps develop players who might not compete in college or the NBA G League.
After a failed attempt to buy the MLS’ DC United, Marion has also become an owner of Club Necaxa, a professional Mexican soccer club in Liga MX.
Marion has served as a director on the board of the NBA’s Retired Players Association as well.
Shawn Marion’s legacy, hall of fame case
Most will always remember Marion having one of the all-time great nicknames, “The Matrix,” which was given to him by Kenny Smith during his first preseason game. Marion also loved the nickname, and has made it a brand, as he trademarked “Matrix 31” in his rookie season.
Marion has since created a “Matrix 31” website, and has put logos for the brand on his cars and various household items.
Part of what earned Marion his nickname is his incredible versatility throughout his basketball career. He was athletic and could defend many positions, but also had a strong offensive game that included a truly unique shooting form.
Despite good percentages throughout his time in the NBA, many have criticized his shooting form over the years, including earlier in 2022 during a conversation in a Twitter space where Marion sounded off to defend himself. He later took to Twitter to apologize for the profanity-laced rant.
However, it is another example of the debate on whether or not Marion should someday be in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Marion was on the ballot for the 2022 class, and figures to have a strong case going forward.
Playing alongside Nash and Stoudemire in Mike D’Antoni’s up-tempo offense, Marion had some truly special years with the Suns. He also has a championship to his name from his time with the Mavs.
Yet, Marion did make just four All-Star appearances in 16 years, only made the All-NBA third team twice, and never made an NBA defensive team. Certainly, most NBA players would welcome a resume like this. However, it could create a longer wait for Marion to get in the Hall of Fame.
In any case, Marion certainly seems deserving of being inducted at some point, and left a lasting legacy during his time in the NBA. Now enjoying retirement, Marion seems poised to do the same in whatever he takes on next.
