WASHINGTON – The Stephon Marbury Era is all but over. The Knicks’ point-guard torch officially was passed yesterday – from the Coney Island Kid to Jamal Crawford.
The Knicks announced the inevitable. Marbury will undergo left-ankle surgery Tuesday after an MRI exam confirmed his fractured bone spur. The operation, to be performed by Dr. Williams Hamilton, likely puts him out for the season, making it very possible he has played his last game as a Knick. The Knicks officially classified Marbury as “out indefinitely.”
In the announcement, the Knicks interestingly wrote that Marbury “has chosen to have surgery,” – confirming reports Marbury possibly could have postponed the surgery, rested and seen if he could play through the pain.
Even before the formal announcement, Isiah Thomas said at yesterday’s practice that Crawford has become the better oncourt leader than Marbury.
The Knicks are Crawford’s team now and are 3-0 since Marbury pulled himself out of the lineup.
Marbury said he doesn’t feel it benefits him to postpone ankle surgery to the offseason as he did in Phoenix in 2002 and 2003.
“It’s best for me to correct it right now before it’s going to get worse,” Marbury said before the surgery announcement. “I was able to play seven years without any pain at all (from the ankle). I understand what’s at stake. I know I can play another five, six years in this league.”
The Knicks, who are interested in Mike Bibby, likely will attempt to trade Marbury’s contract but don’t want to take on a lot of payroll, limiting their options.
Marbury said he believes he will have trade value this summer because he enters the final year of his pact, making $22 million. A general manager trying to get under the cap after the 2008-2009 season when Kobe Bryant is a free agent will covet Marbury. In a worst-case scenario, the Knicks could buy him out.
The 12-26 Knicks, who try to extend their season-high winning streak to four tonight in Washington, are 6-8 without Marbury.
When Thomas tried pulling Marbury out of the starting lineup for Mardy Collins back in November, he talked about Marbury’s needing to be a better oncourt leader.
Though the Knicks are trying to tiptoe around the obvious, Thomas made the telling comment yesterday Crawford has been the better floor general than Marbury.
“Steph is definitely capable of doing all those things, the organization out on the floor, the leadership out on the floor, managing the game situations, managing the clock,” Thomas said. “Steph is capable. But Jamal is doing those things for us right now.”
Crawford, whose been spectacular in the past three games, seems better suited to play off big men Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry at this stage of his career than Marbury.
Crawford is 27. Marbury turns 31 next month, with sore knees, sore ankles and a sore heart. Marbury has been unable to recover from his father Don’s death on Dec. 2, and his relationship with Thomas that became irreparably damaged in November.
Marbury has known since November when Thomas gave him permission to leave the team that he has wanted to move in a differ ent direction. Marbury said he feels he’s made it easier on Thomas by having the ankle surgery now.
“We’ve al ways been a team that ral lied around Jamal’s out bursts,” Thomas said. “He’s a guy who can make shots and he’s made big shots for us. I think that’s happening now with Jamal is he’s starting to gain more confidence in himself and in terms of leading men and how to lead men. I think the team is responding to his leadership right now.”
The final straw occurred Friday night when during a free-throw stoppage, Thomas called over Crawford and Jared Jeffries over to the sideline for an animated 45-second strategy talk. Marbury kept looking at the bench to see if Thomas wanted him to come over. After the game, Marbury complained about his “passive” role, asked for X-rays on his ankle, sat out the next day’s practice and hasn’t played since.
Fred Jones has stepped into the backcourt with Crawford. Jones is all about defense and doesn’t need the ball. Marbury appeared to lose a step on defense, possibly because of his ankle.
“Even when Steph was here, I still held the ball a lot,” Crawford said. “I’m kind of used to it and those situations early helped prepare me for this.”