The Knicks are paying former All-Star Stephon Marbury over $20 million dollars this season, and apparently, they're content to have him collect that money while sitting on the bench in street clothes. Marbury didn't play at all in the team's season-opening victory, and afterwards Mike D'Antoni said that it was basically an all or nothing situation. Well, before tonight's 29 point loss to the Sixers, Marbury opted to take the "nothing" route to the extreme by asking his coach to place him on the inactive list. D'Antoni was happy to honor the request.
"This is the direction we're going and there will be some nights like this," D'Antoni said of Marbury after the loss. "If I was playing everything for tonight, you'd do things differently. But we're trying to build a base for going forward."
Matt Watson mentioned that he didn't see why Marbury had to even bother to dress for the games if he wasn't going to play; apparently Stephon had a similar view of the situation.
Donnie Walsh was hoping that at a minimum, Marbury wouldn't cause any trouble, and would look good while contributing in a limited role, thus allowing him to get something in return for him on the open market. But now that D'Antoni has him on the inactive list, the Knicks will be lucky to get a fourth round draft pick for him -- and the draft only lasts two rounds. We know that Starbury is done playing basketball for the New York Knicks. The only question is, how long will he have to sit on their bench in street clothes before he gets waived or traded somewhere else.
Stephon Marbury Asks to Be Placed on the Inactive List, His Coach Obliges originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 02:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
