Feb. 20, 2026, 5:01 a.m. ET

Today in Boston Celtics history, Stephon Marbury was born in 1977 in Brooklyn, New York, New York. Marbury joined the Celtics organization as the final stop of his NBA career. He signed a contract with the storied ball club after falling out with the head coach of the New York Knicks at that time — Mike D’Antoni — once he had negotiated a buyout with New York. Unfortunately for Starbury (as he was sometimes called for a nickname) his time in Boston with the Celtics did not go very well as the Georgia Tech product did not mesh well with his new club.

His sole season in Boston — by far the worst of his NBA career — paled compared to his career averages of 19.3 points and 7.6 assists per game (Marbury put up only 3.8 points and 3.3 assists per game with the Celtics in 2008-09). This would lead the Celtics to only offer him the veteran’s minimum for the following season, which the New Yorker wouldn’t accept.

Marbury would instead head to China to play in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), where he had a long and successful career as a player, and as a coach after he retired from the game.

BOSTON - APRIL 20: Head coach Doc Rivers of the Boston Celtics talks with Stephon Marbury #8 during a time out against the Chicago Bulls in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden on April 20, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)Transactions

It is also the anniversary of the trade which sent former Boston wing Joe Johnson to the Phoenix Suns in 2002. The trade netted Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk in exchange for Randy Brown, Milt Palacio, and draft assets in addition to Johnson.

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It was something of a loss in retrospect given Johnson’s growth as a player and the fact that Rogers left in free agency, and Delk in a trade after playing only 116 games combined for the club.