Stephon Marbury wasn’t chanting “Fire Woodson’’ on Christmas. Seated in the fourth row behind the Knicks bench Wednesday, the former Knick and Coney Islander gave his support for coach Mike Woodson, who once replaced Marbury’s nemesis, Mike D’Antoni.
Marbury was in town rehabbing his left knee after tearing his meniscus for Beijing in a Chinese Basketball Association game three weeks ago.
“They have a pretty good coach — a straight shooter,’’ Marbury told The Post at halftime of the Knicks’ 29-point loss to the Thunder. “He’s not a B.S. type of coach. Players respect him. When you have that at the helm, it makes it easier, but it can’t fall all on Melo [Carmelo Anthony].’’
Marbury, who is returning to China on Thursday, came to the game with his son, Stephon Jr., who is a big Thunder fan.
“I told him we were going to the Garden for the circus,’’ Marbury cracked, referring to the Knicks turmoil he knows all too well. “He said he wanted to watch basketball.’’
Marbury, whom the Knicks bought out five years ago after he feuded with D’Antoni, said there’s still plenty of time for the team to turn it around.
“This team has more talent with Amar’e [Stoudemire] and Melo and they have to figure it out when they’re healthy,’’ Marbury said. “All they have to do is get into the playoffs, and the Garden atmosphere will carry them through.’’
Marbury recently a signed long-term deal with Beijing and said there’s no chance he’ll play in the NBA again.
It was his first time home for Christmas in five years. A few fans came up to him and kidded him that they wished he’d suit up in the second half.
“I love it in China,’’ said Marbury, who had a statue erected of him in front of the basketball arena in Beijing after the club won the title three years ago. “Living and playing in New York made me think globally.’’
Marbury, who has homes in Westchester County, Los Angeles and Beijing, calls himself “tri-coastal’’ and expects to return to action in three weeks.
Woodson is still holding out hope for injured starting point guard Raymond Felton, who strained his groin Monday in Orlando. Woodson said Felton will undergo more tests Thursday to figure out a timetable, but said it’s still possible the guard would only miss one to two weeks. … Metta World Peace missed his third straight game with a sore left knee as he awaits blood-spinning therapy Thursday.
Point guard Beno Udrih was defensive over recent criticism of his play, stemming from last week’s last-second loss to the Wizards in which Bradley Beal slipped by him for a go-ahead layup.
“I’ve been playing this sport professionally for 16 years, different leagues and here, this is my 10th year,” Udrih said. “Usually, I was a guy that somehow made the right play at the end of the games or stuff like that. I’ve always been pretty good with not turning over the ball and this year, it’s totally different. I don’t know what happened that summer. I don’t think I forgot [how] to play basketball, so there’s a lot of factors.”