A standing-room-only crowd packed the funeral for Stephon Marbury's father on Thursday, including famous basketball players and residents who considered "Mr. Don" Marbury the mayor of their close-knit, hardscrabble Brooklyn neighborhood.

"Everyone knew him and loved him," said James Jones, 40, a construction worker who grew up playing ball with the Marbury family. "His mannerisms drew you to him."

"He loved the kids. The place where we played, we called 'The Garden.' But, you know, it was better than Madison Square Garden. I wouldn't trade growing up here for nothing in the world."

Donald Marbury was taken from Madison Square Garden to a hospital during halftime of the Knicks' loss to Phoenix on Sunday night. He died of a heart problem before the game ended.

On Wednesday, Stephon Marbury said in a statement, "My father left his legacy [where] he always wanted us to finish playing, at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN."