Marbury discusses situation in exclusive interview

Nov 28, 2008 - 7:45 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Stephon Marbury has opened up about his ongoing saga with the New York Knicks.

In an exclusive interview with the New York Post that was published Friday, Marbury said he does not trust coach Mike D'Antoni and has begged Knicks' management for his release.

The Knicks suspended Marbury for one game without pay and fined him on Friday, stating that the two-time All-Star refused to play in Wednesday's game against the Detroit Pistons.

In the final year of a contract that will pay him nearly $20.8 million this season, Marbury has been engaged in a messy feud with D'Antoni and New York's front office concerning his future with the franchise.

D'Antoni kept Marbury off the active roster over the first few weeks of the season, citing the Knicks' desire to use players who have a long-term future with the team.

But New York's roster has been trimmed by trades and injuries over the last week. Nate Robinson, Cuttino Mobley and rookie Danilo Gallinari all are nursing various injuries and were unavailable for Wednesday night's contest.

Despite the depleted lineup, Marbury has been sitting on the sidelines in street clothes.

"We need to separate from the relationship," Marbury told the Post during an hour-long interview Thursday. "The marriage is over. It's a done deal."

He also believes D'Antoni told the team about his removal from the active roster at the beginning of the campaign without telling him.

"Mike created this from the beginning," Marbury said. "Why did he create this environment? I came here ready to play, focused, taking on the role I was ready to take on. They said, 'We don't want you.' I'm not in the plans. I said, 'OK, no problem.' "

He added that two days before the season opener, D'Antoni told team captain Quentin Richardson that Marbury would not start the season in uniform, but the coach never informed him of the decision.

"He told me (Wednesday) that I didn't have a clean slate when training camp started." Marbury said. "Everybody else got a clean slate."

Marbury told the Post that he "wouldn't trust (D'Antoni) to walk my dog across the street."

"I didn't create this," Marbury said. "I'm sitting inside the car. I'm not behind the wheel in the driver's seat. I have no control of the wheel of the car, if we're turning or going straight. I'm sitting in the backseat. He's not going to play me because my heart isn't in it, because the way he treated me. That's on him, not me."

Marbury also said he never refused to play, knowing that such a move could be grounds for suspension, thus docking his pay.

"If you say I gotta play, I'm going to play," Marbury said. "If he said I have to play, guess what, I'm going to get on the court and play, period.

"If I refuse to play, I'm getting suspended. I never told him I'm not going to play. Those words never came out of my mouth. That's insubordination. They want to take my money. I'm not going to let them."