Knicks suspend and fine Marbury

Nov 28, 2008 - 7:45 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The already tenuous relationship between Stephon Marbury and the New York Knicks continues to deteriorate.

Marbury on Friday was suspended for one game without pay for refusing to play Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons.

He also has been fined 1/110th of his salary, meaning the discipline will cost Marbury about $400,000 of his $20.8 million salary this season.

"A player's central obligation is to provide his professional services when called upon," Knicks president Donnie Walsh said. "Because he refused the coach's request to play in the team's last game, we had no choice but to impose disciplinary action."

Marbury, who reportedly has been told to stay away from the team through the weekend while the organization contemplates its next move, is expected to file a grievance.

In an exclusive interview in Friday's New York Post - published just hours ahead of the Knicks announcement - Marbury said it is coach Mike D'Antoni who is orchestrating the entire situation.

"If you say I gotta play, I'm going to play," Marbury told the newspaper during a well-timed interview Thursday. "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."

New York swingman Quentin Richardson seemed to side with the organization after Wednesday's game.

"I don't consider (Marbury) my teammate," Richardson said. "You don't do that to teammates. Regardless of whoever he's trying to stick it to, at the end of the day, we're being left out there."

Marbury responded to the comment, telling the Post that Richardson "doesn't understand what's going on."

A two-time All-Star, Marbury added that he doesn't trust D'Antoni and has begged Knicks' management for his release.

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 remained on the sidelines in street clothes.

"We need to separate from the relationship," Marbury said. "The marriage is over. It's a done deal."

He continued 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."