OMEN
11-15-2007, 10:10 AM
http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2007/basketball/nba/11/14/marbury.fine.ap/p1.knicks.jpg
Stephon Marbury has two years and some $40 million remaining on his contract.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Stephon Marbury rejoined the New York Knicks in Los Angeles on Wednesday, one day after skipping a game at Phoenix.
It's unclear whether the star guard will play against the Clippers.
Earlier Tuesday, the team fined Marbury more than $180,000 for missing the Suns game, the latest clash between the disgruntled point guard and coach Isiah Thomas.
The Knicks sent Marbury a letter informing him of the fine, according to a person with knowledge of the penalty who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday. He requested anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss it. The Knicks would not confirm the fine.
According to the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, players are docked 1/110th of their salaries for a missed game without a reasonable excuse. With Marbury scheduled to earn $20.1 million this season, that would be about $182,800.
Thomas brought Marbury back to his hometown in a trade with the Suns on Jan. 5, 2004, and the two enjoyed a close relationship while Thomas was solely the team president. But things changed when he took on the job of coach as well before last season.
They clashed early last year after Thomas benched him in the second halves of two games, though they patched things up and Marbury played well the second half of the season.
But any problems on the court were minor compared to Marbury's strange summer.
He behaved erratically during a televised interview, then testified in a sexual harassment trial against Thomas and Madison Square Garden that he had a sexual encounter in his truck with a team intern. Marbury was smiling and singing on his way out of the courthouse.
Marbury also was forced to apologize after defending Michael Vick's participation in dogfighting.
The Knicks hoped their summer of woes would be forgotten once the season started, but instead they've blown up on their first road trip.
Marbury played poorly down the stretch in New York's 75-72 home loss to Miami on Sunday, and the Daily News reported Tuesday the Knicks were trying to reduce Marbury's role or get rid of him entirely.
That created tensions between Marbury and Thomas -- Westchester County neighbors who share the same agent. The two reportedly even fought on the plane to Phoenix, which the Knicks denied.
"There is no truth to that whatsoever," said Knicks spokesman Jonathan Supranowitz, who was on the flight.
Marbury then left the team in Phoenix, telling the New York Post on Tuesday he had permission from Thomas. Thomas would not confirm that, but did say the team would welcome back Marbury.
Thomas refused to discuss any potential penalties against Marbury before the game Tuesday, saying the matter would be kept "in-house."
Several of Marbury's teammates said his departure took them by surprise, but they expressed no hard feelings.
"You always support your teammates," forward Jared Jeffries said Tuesday night. "A lot of people on the outside don't understand what guys go through with their family, their friends, with this team, with anything. Whenever somebody goes through a tough time you support your teammate."
Messages left for the agent, Jordan Bazant, were not immediately returned.
Marbury is still one of the Knicks' best players, averaging 15.2 points and 6.8 assists. He is under contract with the Knicks through next season, scheduled to earn about $42 million. That makes him difficult to trade, especially since he has created problems off the court and never won a playoff series on it.
Associated Press.
Stephon Marbury has two years and some $40 million remaining on his contract.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Stephon Marbury rejoined the New York Knicks in Los Angeles on Wednesday, one day after skipping a game at Phoenix.
It's unclear whether the star guard will play against the Clippers.
Earlier Tuesday, the team fined Marbury more than $180,000 for missing the Suns game, the latest clash between the disgruntled point guard and coach Isiah Thomas.
The Knicks sent Marbury a letter informing him of the fine, according to a person with knowledge of the penalty who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday. He requested anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss it. The Knicks would not confirm the fine.
According to the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, players are docked 1/110th of their salaries for a missed game without a reasonable excuse. With Marbury scheduled to earn $20.1 million this season, that would be about $182,800.
Thomas brought Marbury back to his hometown in a trade with the Suns on Jan. 5, 2004, and the two enjoyed a close relationship while Thomas was solely the team president. But things changed when he took on the job of coach as well before last season.
They clashed early last year after Thomas benched him in the second halves of two games, though they patched things up and Marbury played well the second half of the season.
But any problems on the court were minor compared to Marbury's strange summer.
He behaved erratically during a televised interview, then testified in a sexual harassment trial against Thomas and Madison Square Garden that he had a sexual encounter in his truck with a team intern. Marbury was smiling and singing on his way out of the courthouse.
Marbury also was forced to apologize after defending Michael Vick's participation in dogfighting.
The Knicks hoped their summer of woes would be forgotten once the season started, but instead they've blown up on their first road trip.
Marbury played poorly down the stretch in New York's 75-72 home loss to Miami on Sunday, and the Daily News reported Tuesday the Knicks were trying to reduce Marbury's role or get rid of him entirely.
That created tensions between Marbury and Thomas -- Westchester County neighbors who share the same agent. The two reportedly even fought on the plane to Phoenix, which the Knicks denied.
"There is no truth to that whatsoever," said Knicks spokesman Jonathan Supranowitz, who was on the flight.
Marbury then left the team in Phoenix, telling the New York Post on Tuesday he had permission from Thomas. Thomas would not confirm that, but did say the team would welcome back Marbury.
Thomas refused to discuss any potential penalties against Marbury before the game Tuesday, saying the matter would be kept "in-house."
Several of Marbury's teammates said his departure took them by surprise, but they expressed no hard feelings.
"You always support your teammates," forward Jared Jeffries said Tuesday night. "A lot of people on the outside don't understand what guys go through with their family, their friends, with this team, with anything. Whenever somebody goes through a tough time you support your teammate."
Messages left for the agent, Jordan Bazant, were not immediately returned.
Marbury is still one of the Knicks' best players, averaging 15.2 points and 6.8 assists. He is under contract with the Knicks through next season, scheduled to earn about $42 million. That makes him difficult to trade, especially since he has created problems off the court and never won a playoff series on it.
Associated Press.