APAlthough Cleveland star LeBron James, said he doesn’t know Marbury, he was critical of his just taking off from the Knicks.
“I couldn’t have a guy like that on my team,” James said, before the Cavaliers’ game with visiting Orlando.
Earlier Wednesday, the Knicks fined Marbury more than $180,000 for missing the Suns game, the latest clash between the disgruntled point guard and 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. Things changed when he also took on the job of coach 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.
Still, 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. 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 New York Daily News reported Tuesday the Knicks were trying to reduce Marbury’s role or get rid of him entirely.
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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 Marbury back.
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.
Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors 94-92 on Sunday, their eighth victory in nine meetings with Toronto
Rajon Rondo recorded a triple-double with 32 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics to a 95-91 win Sunday over the Chicago Bulls, who were without star guard Derrick Rose.
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