By MARC BERMAN
PHOENIX – Nobody in the organization could predict if the Isiah Thomas-Stephon Marbury feud can be repaired. If it can’t, the Knicks will have no choice but to buy him out.
That’s how ugly their wild argument became – starting on the team flight Monday and spilling into the hotel. Marbury flipped out when Thomas talked to him about coming off the bench vs. Phoenix and made threats about the dirt he knows about him. Marbury wanted to make it clear in his text messages that
Thomas gave him permission to bolt Phoenix and leave for home. But after that kind of dustup, neither wanted to be around each other. Marbury claimed to have watched the game Tuesday night. It’s a sign he hasn’t given up on being a Knick. The question is, will this disagreement be irreparable? And will the players accept Marbury back. Malik Rose sounded disgusted by the whole thing.
Maybe in the long run, this will be best for the Knicks if Marbury moves on. For the present, it’s a disaster. They’re ready to throw away another season, with three starters out and two more getting injured in the loss to Phoenix, Renaldo Balkman and Mardy Collins. The Clippers must be licking their chops with the circus coming to town.