Stephon Marbury walked into the visitors' locker room at Continental Arena this morning with a bounce in his step and a smile when he saw the throng of waiting reporters.

He was prepared for the questions. When Marbury, the Phoenix Suns' new point guard, sat and talked about his return to the arena that was home for two-plus seasons, he did not disparage his former coach Byron Scott, as Scott had bluntly criticized Marbury this week.

Marbury did not show that he was bothered by the implications that the Nets, off to a 10-6 start, are better off since they shipped him to Phoenix for Jason Kidd.