Basketball: Rare start for Marks

If an All Black doesn't get a start for, say, a run of ten matches in a row, he'd probably feel a bit aggrieved.

Spare a thought then for kiwi basketballer Sean Marks, playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Marks made a breakthrough of sorts this week when he made his first start in a NBA match for nearly seven years.

That's right - seven years.

Consigned to a minor roles off the bench for much of his nine-year NBA career, the former Tall Blacks centre started for the New Orleans Hornets at home to the Indiana Pacers yesterday.

Taking advantage of an injury to power forward David West, Marks made just the seventh start of his 146-game career.

He provided two points, shooting one-from-five from the field, along with three rebounds and a block in 17 minutes of game time.

The Hornets won 103-100 thanks to buzzer-beating three-pointer from point guard Chris Paul.

Marks' previous six starts all came with the Miami Heat in the 2001-02 season.

With 19 games played in 2008-09, Marks is on track to play his most games in a single season.

He needs seven more games to eclipse the 25 times he stepped on court for the San Antonio Spurs in 2005-06.

- NZPA