Knicks Guard Stephon Marbury Fined $180,000 For Skipping Game At Phoenix

NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Knicks fined Stephon Marbury more than $180,000 for skipping Tuesday's game at Phoenix. <br/><br/>The Knicks sent the guard a letter informing him of the fine, according

Wednesday, November 14th 2007, 12:13 pm

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Knicks fined Stephon Marbury more than $180,000 for skipping Tuesday's game at Phoenix.

The Knicks sent the guard a letter informing him of the fine, according to a person with knowledge of the penalty who spoke to The Associated Press. He requested anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss it.

The Knicks would not confirm the fine.

The team plays Wednesday in Los Angeles against the Clippers. It isn't known if Marbury will attend that game.

According to the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, players are docked 1/110th of their salaries for a missed game. With Marbury scheduled to earn $20.1 million this season, that would be about $182,800.

Marbury told the New York Post on Tuesday he had permission from coach Isiah Thomas to leave the team, but Thomas would not confirm that. He did say Marbury would be welcome.

Several of Marbury's teammates said his departure took them by surprise, but they expressed no hard feelings.

â€œYou always support your teammates,â€ forward Jared Jeffries said Tuesday. â€œA 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.â€