Stephon Marbury, making his first public comments since his Jan. 22 ankle surgery, said at the Garden last night he hasn’t given up hope he’ll remain with the Knicks next season – in what seemed a plea to owner James Dolan.
Obviously, he hopes it will be with Isiah Thomas on the unemployment line.
The exiled point guard – at times, misty-eyed – said he “prays” he finishes his contract with the Knicks next season and that it “bothered me a lot” when Thomas, his feuding partner, omitted his name last week in regard to the 2008-2009 backcourt.
Marbury, 31, acknowledged he realizes Thomas doesn’t want him here. But it’s up in the air if Thomas will be in place to make that call.
Upon his long-hyped return to the Garden after being banned by Thomas, Marbury was greeted by a media circus in the locker room as he spoke emotionally about his “love” for the organization, and praised owner Dolan in what looked like a kiss-up job.
Marbury, wearing a checkered peach jacket, did not once mention Thomas by name, their feud still broiling. Marbury also confirmed The Post’s report he won’t make it back this season because of the “complicated” nature of his surgery.
With more than 40 media crowding around him in the locker room before the Knicks were toasted by LeBron James’ 50 points in a 119-105 loss to the Cavs, Marbury said, “I want to be back here more than anything. I love New York. I love the fans. Our fans are the best.”
“I pray to God I will,” he added. “I love New York. It’s the only place I want to be at. This is it. It’s not too many players when they played on other teams they were a fan of another team. I honestly and truthfully can say when I was in Minnesota, I always spoke how I felt about New York. For me to finish my career here, bad times or good times, I think it means a lot to be able to do that.”
Thomas said at the morning shoot-around on Marbury’s future, “He has a contract next year.”
Last week, Thomas did not mention Marbury’s name when talking about the backcourt, and saying the Knicks needed to add another point guard.
“It bothered me,” Marbury said. “It bothered me a lot. I know where my heart is at, and I know what I want to do. I can’t speak for what someone else is saying, or how they feel.”
The Post reported Marbury had been instructed by Thomas not to attend home games and was under a gag order from the organization. Thomas told the media Monday that Marbury would be at that night’s game, but he didn’t show.
The Post also reported Marbury stayed away because Thomas never personally invited him and was under the impression he still wasn’t welcome.
When asked if he was banned, Marbury said, “I got no comment to that.”
But Marbury indicated Thomas doesn’t want him back.
“He’s the president of this team,” Marbury said. “Whatever he’s saying is going to go. I can’t change his mind. I’m just telling you how I feel about the organization, how I feel about Mr. Dolan. He didn’t have to sign a bill for me to come here. I respect him a lot, despite all that’s going on. My heart is here and always has been here. Things don’t work out the way you want it to work out all the time. You can’t just give up on it. I know I haven’t given up.”