Stephon Marbury said he has has "shut everything down" and will take this season off.

Marbury told the New York Post that he will play again next season.

"I'm resting, doing what Michael Jordan did, enjoy life, do things I haven't done in 16 years, keep building my empire," Marbury said. "I wasn't going to Boston for that money. It was a prudent business decision to take off this year."

Marbury played 24 games in the regular season and 14 in the playoffs for the Celtics after an ugly separation from the Knicks. He went unsigned as a free agent after turning down Boston's veteran minimum offer of $1.3 million.

Some believe he rattled NBA establishment in July when he hosted a 24-hour online show during which he swallowed Vaseline because he lost his voice.

"It wasn't a trick, it's a black heritage thing and I did it to help me when I lost my voice," Marbury said. "People saw I was drinking a lot of tea. They said I was crazy. But if I'm hurt, why wouldn't I do something that helps me?"

Marbury said he has stopped training to work on deals with his Starbury company, which sells apparel online.

"People can say what they want and act like God," Marbury said. "A year from now, you don't know what I'm going to be like. I got to 197 pounds last camp. I'm from the gutter. I can go anywhere."

Marbury remains critical of the Knicks.

"I'm just talking as a fan and New Yorker who grew up loving the Knicks: why would I give you my money to watch them?" Marbury said. "This is atrocious. Guys coming down court, just raising up 3-pointers from anywhere. The coaching is horrible. What kind of coaching is this?

"If they shoot like that in the game, imagine how they shoot in practice. New Yorkers deserve better decisions form the front office and New York City has to deal with this mess."

Marbury said he doesn't think LeBron James will join the Knicks when he becomes a free agent after this season.

"LeBron isn't coming to a rebuilding team," Marbury said. "Why would he come to a rebuilding team? It makes no sense. Is this franchise built to win a championship or to make money?"

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