Stephon Marbury yesterday told The Post it was “total nonsense” that he turned down a chance to play for Miami Heat’s “Dream Team.”
In fact, the former Knick, who played for Shanxi, China, last season, wants to play in Miami and still hasn’t given up hope.
Marbury, back in China for promotional events, said a Chinese reporter mixed up the translation of his remarks and that it was erroneously reported he had rejected the Dream Team’s overtures — an account picked up in New York.
The 33-year-old told The Post that the Heat contacted him in early July before LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh formed the Dream Team and told him they would get back to him after “they handled all the things they had to handle.”
Marbury still is waiting to hear back from Heat president Pat Riley, as Miami continues filling out its roster and could use another point guard. Marbury has not heard from James or Wade.
“It’s total nonsense, why would I turn down a chance to play for the Miami Heat?” an irate Marbury told The Post from Beijing. “The report was a fabrication.”
Indeed, two weeks ago, Marbury, in a e-mail to The Post, wrote: “Who wouldn’t want to play with those guys?”
Marbury’s point to the Chinese journalist was that a point guard is not essential on that unit because James and Wade handle the ball so much and he would be taking on a small role in their success, as opposed to his status in China.
“What I was saying was I wouldn’t be making a major difference with those guys because they have great players,” Marbury told The Post. “I’d just be filling a smaller role. Miami was considering bringing me there. They told me they’d get back to me. I haven’t heard back.”
Marbury was the superstar on Shanxi last season. He flew to China last week to visit his former teammates, play in Yao Ming’s charity game and to make an appearance at Beijing’s largest mall to promote a Chinese mobile Internet company.
If nothing comes through in the NBA, Marbury is expected to spend another season with Shanxi after recently turning down an offer to play in Jerusalem.