Dodgers' Rising Star Josue De Paula Draws Strength From NBA Cousin Stephon Marbury
When Josue De Paula was called up to the Los Angeles Dodgers in September, the 21-year-old outfielder faced a daunting challenge: performing on baseball's biggest stage for the reigning two-time champions. He responded with a stunning .323/.500/.581 slash line, seven runs, seven RBIs, and 11 walks against just five strikeouts in 11 regular-season games.
But De Paula does not face this pressure alone. His family includes a basketball legend who knows exactly what it feels like to be thrust into the spotlight at a young age: his third cousin, former NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury.
How are Josue De Paula and Stephon Marbury related?
Marbury, now 49, describes the connection simply: “My mother's niece's daughter's son.” The two are third cousins, and both grew up in Coney Island, Brooklyn, surrounded by basketball greatness. Marbury and another NBA point guard, Sebastian Telfair, are part of De Paula's family on his mother's side.
Yet De Paula chose a different path. His father, Josue Sr., was Dominican and loved baseball. Marbury recalled that his young cousin had a “grind and passion” for the sport, pursuing something “out of the norm of our family.”
What advice did Marbury give De Paula before his call-up?
Marbury, who was drafted fourth overall in the NBA Draft at just 19 years old, has been a steady mentor. He told De Paula: “You gotta be first and last, you gotta be the first one in and the last one out. You gotta be on everything you need to be on.”
The advice reflects Marbury's own disciplined approach, which made him one of the greatest point guards to come out of New York City in a generation. He sees the same qualities in De Paula: “He stays in the box, he's patient, he's never hesitant, he's coachable. He's a kid that's ready for it.”
How did De Paula rise through the Dodgers' ranks?
At around age 15, De Paula left Brooklyn to live with his father's family in the Dominican Republic, where he could play baseball year-round. His talent was evident early. “He started getting discovered early and there was conversation about him one day becoming a pro,” Marbury remembered.
In 2022, De Paula signed as an international free agent with the Dodgers. After dominating at every minor league level and climbing to the top of MLB Pipeline's prospect lists, he was called up on September 11, 2026.
What does the future hold for De Paula with the Dodgers?
De Paula has quickly become a sensation in Dodgertown, even on a team featuring megastars like Shohei Ohtani. Marbury, who now lives in China where he became a basketball immortal, plans to wake up early to watch his cousin's postseason games. This is no small sacrifice for a self-described Yankees fan.
“I'm gonna put on an L.A. hat and I'm a Yankees fan,” Marbury laughed. “I actually have a hat with L.A. and N.Y. on it. For my little cousin, people are gonna understand.”
De Paula feels the support from across the globe. He told MLB.com's Perla Paredes: “Recently, he posted something about me, and I saw it. He was like, 'Hey, put on a show now. You're there now.' It's fire to have that backup.”
For De Paula, the path forward is clear: work hard, stay disciplined, and honor the family legacy that paved the way. With Marbury's guidance and his own determination, the young outfielder is poised to make his mark on baseball's grandest stage.