November 14, 2007

By Steve Adamek

The Record (Hackensack N.J.)

PHOENIX — Once they were a pair, virtually joined at the hip, Stephon Marbury and Isiah Thomas, two city-bred point guards with chips on their shoulders who planned to restore the Knicks to glory.

They’re Westchester County, N.Y., neighbors, the same agent represents them and, less than four years ago via a blockbuster trade two weeks after his hiring, Thomas made Marbury the centerpiece of his rebuilding program.


Tuesday, their marriage hit the rocks, perhaps taking an initial step toward divorce when Marbury flew back to New York before the Knicks’ trip-opening game in Phoenix, skipping both the morning shootaround and a 113-102 loss to the Suns.

Thomas wouldn’t specify what precipitated yet another Knicks crisis/distraction.

However, one NBA player familiar with the situation said punches were thrown during Monday’s flight to Phoenix, and someone who was on the flight admitted awakening to a commotion as Thomas discussed his dissatisfaction with Marbury’s play and a possible demotion from the starting lineup.

If that’s the case (and Knicks’ officials deny a fight took place), Marbury probably has played his last game for his hometown team.

Thomas also wouldn’t say whether the 30-year-old Coney Island product will be suspended or fined. The latter could cost Marbury more than $180,000 of his $20.1 million salary for each game he misses.

Marbury, according to several reports, said he had Thomas’ permission to return to New York, but the Knicks’ president-coach wouldn’t address that either, calling it “an in-house matter,” a phrase he used at least 15 times Tuesday.

But Thomas did say, “He is welcome back and we want him as a member of this team.”

As the starting point guard?

“If he does the things that I want him to do, yes,” Thomas said.

“We need leadership from that position at the point guard and we also need defense. Those are two things that he’s definitely capable of doing. . . . Those are the only two things that I require from that position.”

Based on how often guards such as Allen Iverson, Jameer Nelson and Jason Williams blew by him on drives the previous three games, plus a benching for more than a quarter during the second half of the Knicks’ opening-night loss in Cleveland, Marbury (15.2 points, 6.8 assists) hasn’t met Thomas’ defensive criteria.

His lack of leadership can’t be chronicled as easily, although he and Quentin Richardson nearly came to blows two seasons ago — and Richardson questioned his teammates’ focus after Sunday’s loss.

A number of players on the Knicks — who also played Tuesday without Richardson (elbow) and Zach Randolph (bereavement) — declined comment on the matter. But both Jared Jeffries (active for the first time this season) and Mardy Collins (who started for Marbury) said their teammate would be welcomed back if and when he returns, even though he essentially walked out on them.

“You always support your teammates,” Jeffries said. “Nobody knows circumstances. If it’s not happening to you, you can’t judge.”

“I don’t have one bad thing to say about Steph,” Collins said.

Phone calls to Marbury were not answered Tuesday, nor were messages left with his (and Thomas’) agent, Jordan Brezant. Marbury has a home in Los Angeles, where the Knicks play the Clippers on Wednesday night, but isn’t expected back by then, according to one report.

The two years (including this season) and $42 million left on his contract, meanwhile, mean a buyout would cost the Knicks plenty, barring the unlikelihood of him settling for a far lower figure.

That contract and his history (Minnesota, the Nets and Phoenix previously unloaded him) also make it difficult to trade him at this point — although the closer he gets to the final year of his contract (worth $21.9 million next season), the more appealing he becomes to a team seeking expiring contracts to create salary-cap room.

Marbury has been a lightning rod for criticism at least the past three-plus seasons, particularly after he declared himself the league’s best point guard before a Jan. 1, 2005, game against the Nets and Jason Kidd. The Knicks’ won-lost record since then: is 75-148.

He also behaved bizarrely this past off-season, losing control during television interviews, defending Michael Vick’s dogfighting practices and saying he planned to play in Italy when his contract ran out after next season. Then during the Anucha Browne Sanders sexual-harassment trial, a former Knicks intern (who has since received a promotion) testified she had an affair with him.

HAHAHA...

if there was a fight, it gives dolan a reason to fire isiah with this appeal process still pending.

Players Union.

I think there is some pretty clean cut language about players fighting management and vice versa in the rules.

If they did have a fight.....David stern and the players union would force Dolans hand on a lot of things going on in Knickland.

Send Marbury home awaiting trade or buyout.
Fire Isiah Thomas.


Those are two moves that any sane franchise would seek after all the history the past four years of these two characters have brought upon us.


The Marbury situation is irreparable. He's done as a basketball player and is not in our long term plans so end it now.

Isiah Thomas has proven to be a poor GM who blamed coach after coach for misusing the rosters he assembled. Isiah Thomas the coach has learned that Isiah Thomas the GM is at fault for the past four seasons of poor play.

Time for him to go as well just based on that alone.

Posted by BasketballJones:

Let him sit out the year, then trade him next year when his contract is attractive.

What are we going to trade him for? Another overblown contract?
Maybe, just maybe, its time to let contracts expire and start getting within the same galaxy as the cap?

Posted by islesfan:

Where have I heard all of this before??? Seriously, can someone help me out here and remind me where I've heard this? It all sounds so unbelievably familiar. Like something I've heard for years now.

Everyone has their own personal breaking point be it a fan or management. Eventually everyone will hit that limit and then changes will come. For Dolan his fuse is apparently a lot longer than most sane men. However I don't know how much more this franchise can handle before it cleans house.

We're obviously a lot close to the end of the Isiah Thomas era. It should be over today but I doubt it lasts beyond this season.

Posted by nixluva:

I don't believe there was a fist fight. I don't see what rationale there is for Isiah to be fired just cuz one player acts out. He's in charge of the entire team and the rest of the players seem to be emotionally dedicated to making something of the season. Just look at how upset Balkman was at his mistakes. IF he didn't care I don't see him responding in that way. They didn't end up getting blown out. It was a decisive loss, but they kept playing hard.

We need to stop looking for reasons to get Isiah out of here. I think he's making the right moves and in the end the results will be better for this team.

It's been confirmed by a player that was on the plane and by another "person" on the plane anda second player was said to be awoken by the ruckus. It's seemingly legit.

How severe who knows but it's apparent the argument turned into a brief scuffle.

Posted by nixluva:

I don't believe there was a fist fight. I don't see what rationale there is for Isiah to be fired just cuz one player acts out. He's in charge of the entire team and the rest of the players seem to be emotionally dedicated to making something of the season. Just look at how upset Balkman was at his mistakes. IF he didn't care I don't see him responding in that way. They didn't end up getting blown out. It was a decisive loss, but they kept playing hard.

We need to stop looking for reasons to get Isiah out of here. I think he's making the right moves and in the end the results will be better for this team.

What would it take for some of you to wake up about Isiah?