Knicks fine Stephon Marbury more than $180,000 for skipping game at Phoenix

NEW YORK – After a summer of lawsuits and tabloid headlines, the New York Knicks wanted to get back \nto basketball.\nSo much for that plan.\nThe team fined Stephon Marbury more than $180,000 after he blew off Tuesday night’s game against Phoenix, the latest clash between the disgruntled point guard and coach Isiah Thomas.\nThe 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.\nThe Knicks wouldn’t say if Marbury would attend Wednesday night’s road game against the Los Angeles Clippers, or if they would fine him again if he doesn’t show.\nAccording to the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, players are docked 1/110th of their salaries for missing a game without a reasonable excuse. With Marbury scheduled to earn $20.1 million this season, that would be about $182,800.\nThe Knicks hoped their summer of woes would be forgotten once the season started, but instead they’ve blown up on their first road trip.\nMarbury played poorly down the stretch in New York’s 75-72 home loss to Miami on Sunday, and the Daily News reported Tuesday the Knicks were trying to reduce Marbury’s role or get rid of him entirely.\nThat 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 \nKnicks denied.\n“There is no truth to that whatsoever,” said Knicks spokesman Jonathan Supranowitz, who was on \nthe flight.\nMarbury 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 back \nMarbury.\nThomas refused to discuss any potential penalties against Marbury before the game Tuesday, saying the matter would be kept \n“in-house.”\nSeveral of Marbury’s teammates said his departure took them by surprise, but they expressed no hard \nfeelings.\n“You always support your teammates,” forward Jared Jeffries said Tuesday. “A lot of people on the outside don’t understand what guys go through with their family, their friends, with this team, with anything. Whenever somebody goes through a tough time you support your teammate.”\nMarbury 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, and is scheduled to earn about $42 million. \nThat makes him difficult to trade, especially since he has created problems off the court and never won a playoff series on it.