Point guard Stephon Marbury rejoined the New York Knicks on Wednesday, only to be fined an estimated $182,800 US for skipping a game the night before.
Marbury, 30, walked out on the team without explanation prior to Tuesday's tilt at Phoenix, won 113-102 by the hometown Suns.
Stephon Marbury left the Knicks before Tuesday's 113-102 loss.
(Matt Slocum/Associated Press)
Knicks head coach Isiah Thomas would discuss the matter with reporters,
"We had a conversation," he said. "And any conversations that we have within our team, we'll try to keep those as private and in-house matters."
"We had a conversation, and any conversations that we have within our team, we will try to keep those as private and in-house matters," New York coach Isiah Thomas said.
Marbury flew from New York to Los Angeles and rejoined the Knicks for Wednesday's tilt with the Clippers, but much lighter in the wallet.
The NBA's collective bargaining agreement stipulates players can be docked 1/110th of their salary for missing a game without permission.
In Marbury's case, that works out to $182,800 US because he makes $20.1 million US.
"I'm going to leave it internal like Isiah said, and I will respect if everyone can just respect that," Marbury said. "That's it, that's all I really have to say about this."
Asked if he had apologized to his teammates, Marbury replied: "I plan to just tell them that this is something that has to do with Isiah and myself."
Rumours persist that the Knicks seek to reduce Marbury's role, if not unload him altogether, even though he is averaging 15.2 points, 6.8 assists, 2.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 37.0 minutes.
"I believe he is capable of leading this team and he is capable of playing great defence," Thomas said. "When I see those two things, I think our team can take another step in this league.
"Unfortunately, lessons in life have to be learned on a public stage. He is a kid that made it out of Coney Island and I think what I'm asking him to do, he is capable of doing.
"As I said to him before, if he cannot do it, we will have to find someone who can."
Marbury has averaged 19.8 points, 7.9 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 38.4 minutes in 804 appearances (798 starts) with the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, Suns and Knicks.
New York acquired the two-time all-star from Phoenix, along with Anfernee (Penny) Hardaway adn Cezary Trybanski, for Antonio McDyess, Maciej Lampe, Howard Eisley, Charlie Ward, Milos Vujanic and two first-round draft picks on Jan. 5, 2004.
With files from the Associated PressRelated
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