Thursday, August 12, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

LOCAL OLYMPIANS: SHAWN MARION

By MARK ANDERSON
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Former UNLV basketball star Shawn Marion averaged 19.0 points and 9.3 rebounds per game last season for the NBA's Phoenix Suns. The Associated Press

Shawn Marion has been through the U.S. men's basketball team's struggles, and now he wants to be part of its revival.

Marion, a former UNLV star, will compete for the American squad at the Athens Olympics. The United States once dominated the rest of the world in basketball, but finished sixth at the 2002 World Championship in Indianapolis.

Marion did compete on the team that won the gold medal at the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia.

"When I went to Australia for the Goodwill Games, I looked at it as a steppingstone to get to the Olympics," Marion said on USA Basketball's Web site. "I'll bring whatever they need me to bring. I think I can offer my whole game, offense or defense. I'll do whatever is asked, whatever is needed."

He played just one season at UNLV (1998-99), but led the Rebels with 18.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.

Since then, Marion has established himself as one of the NBA's top players. Marion, 26, averaged 19.0 points and 9.3 rebounds last season for the Phoenix Suns, and led the league with 167 steals. He has averaged 17.9 points and 9.4 rebounds over five seasons, and he played in the 2003 All-Star Game.