Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said he can understand Stephon Marbury’s scathing criticism of him in yesterday’s Post. But D’Antoni denied Marbury’s accusation that he never planned to play the point guard and treated him disrespectfully.
MORE: Steph Banned From Promises As Exit Settlement Stalls
“Well, I hate that. Obviously he’s in a tough position and I don’t think anybody’s thrilled with where anybody is, but that’s not really true,” D’Antoni said.
Marbury also blasted his teammates, saying they have been unsupportive of him during his exile. David Lee, for one, didn’t agree with Marbury’s claim, though.
“I don’t know what to say to that, more than I’m sorry he feels that way and I don’t get the impression that we’ve done that,” Lee said.
Chris Duhon, who has taken Marbury’s place as the starting point guard, said he wishes he had done more.
“I tried to make him a part of us as much as possible. I know it was a tough situation for him,” Duhon said. “So from the outside looking in, maybe I could have done a better job of it. But at that time, I just kind of gave him his space and if he needed me, I was going to always be there.”
Quentin Richardson, who ripped Marbury last week and said he didn’t consider him a teammate, claimed yesterday that he hadn’t seen Marbury’s comments. He added Marbury is “entitled to his opinion, just like I am. I obviously said what I said and he feels differently about that.”
Asked if he believed Marbury was a good teammate, Richardson replied, “Steph’s been cool,” then chuckled.
D’Antoni added: “He’s in a tough position. . . . We’re going to try to do the best we can to solve the problem and hope all parties are happy and then go forward.”
*
Jared Jeffries, who has missed every game so far with a fractured fibula, is back practicing with contact and thinks he can make his first appearance in a game next week. Jeffries said he “felt great” practicing yesterday.
“He’s not quite ready to play yet,” D’Antoni said, “but we’ll get him back in there.”
*
D’Antoni wasn’t sure whether Nate Robinson (strained groin) would be able to play tonight against Portland. Robinson has missed the last two games.