NBA

TRAVELING MARBURY

PHOENIX – Stephon Marbury’s tumultuous Knicks career is in jeopardy of ending after the point guard bolted Phoenix in a huff yesterday morning and flew home following a wild argument with Isiah Thomas – an argument that began on the team charter when Marbury learned he would not be starting and which spilled over to the team hotel.

In a series of text messages to The Post late yesterday afternoon after landing in New York, Marbury claimed he wasn’t headed back anytime soon. Marbury missed last night’s 113-102 loss to the Suns and had no plans of flying to LA to rejoin the team tonight vs. the Clippers.

Marbury told The Post in the messages that Thomas gave him permission to skip out. “I have one thing to say, and that’s I got permission to leave,” Marbury claimed in the message. “I would never leave my team on my own. What I’m telling you is that I got permission to leave from Isiah. He said I could go home. God bless. Peace be with you.”

Marbury also watched last night’s game from his Westchester home. Asked if he gave Marbury permission to leave, Thomas didn’t deny it, saying, “The conversations we had in-house, we’ll try to keep it there.”

If Thomas gave Marbury permission, it may be an indication the Knicks want a divorce, too. Because his contract pays him $42 million across the next two years, Marbury is untradeable and the only parting could be through a buyout.

Marbury could be risking a fine, suspension and his career in this battle of the Knicks’ two most visible faces – two egocentric, stubborn men locked in a stalemate.

Marbury told The Post in the summer he was ready to play in Italy when his contract was up in two years, partly to internationally market his discount Starburys. It was a remark that irked owner James Dolan, who could view Marbury’s desertion as the final straw as he already wasn’t pleased with Marbury’s trial testimony and defense of Michael Vick.

Regarding the Clippers, Marbury wrote, “No, I’m not coming to LA as of now.”

A source said Marbury and Thomas got into a heated argument in the Phoenix hotel Monday night shortly after flying into town. Thomas told Marbury he was considering taking his starting job away and lessening his minutes and they disagreed on Marbury’s level of play in the first five games.

Marbury, who became a born-again Christian, also texted, “It shall be well.”

At the morning shootaround, Thomas was vague about Marbury’s absence, even hinting Marbury was back at the hotel, saying he hoped he’d show up for that night’s game. It was contrary to a report on the Post’s website yesterday morning he had already left Phoenix.

Thomas said repeatedly he wanted Marbury back in the fold, but that may not be his feeling long-term. “This is an in-house matter,” Thomas said. “He’s not here at shootaround. We hope he’s at the game. If not, make no mistake about it, we do want him as a member of this basketball team. He is welcome back, and we want him as a member of this team.”

Asked if Marbury would be fined, Thomas said, “Any type of penalty or suspension will be in-house and kept within the confines.”

This is the second straight November they’ve gotten into a feud over his role and it underscored Marbury’s volatile relationships with superiors, dating to Larry Brown.

Thomas and Marbury are neighbors and their families socialize. The Knicks coach is hopeful they bury the hatchet soon. “Seems he and I go through this every November and a couple of weeks goes by and we kind of kiss and make up and we get back to the business of trying to win basketball games,” Thomas said. “Hopefully in the next couple of days this will be resolved.”

Asked if he wanted Marbury as starter, Thomas said, “If he does the things I want him to do, yes.

We need leadership from that position at the point guard. We also need defense. Those are two things he’s definitely capable of doing. When he returns, that’s what I expect from him. I expect him to lead from that position. I expect him to defend from that position.

“I thought last year was one of the best years he’s had playing in this game, not necessarily statistically,” Thomas said. “We want him. We need him. Our door’s open.”

Thomas started Mardy Collins at point guard. Collins made his season debut in Sunday’s Miami loss and is a better defender. Marbury’s defense has been poor during the 2-3 start and he’s shooting 40 percent. Marbury’s absence left them without three starters vs. the dynamo Suns as Quentin Richardson (hyperextended elbow) and Zach Randolph (grandmother’s funeral) were also out. The Knicks did dress Jared Jeffries for the first time this season as he returned from a sprained knee.

STEPH BY STEPH

From one feud to another, it’s been a tumultuous two-year stretch for Stephon Marbury and his relationship with the Knicks brass and coaches, climaxing yesterday when he bolted Phoenix and headed home in what could be his last act as a Knick. Marbury, who has two years and $42 million left on his pact, told The Post he’s received permission to leave the squad. Here’s a recap:

Nov. 11, 2005: The Post reports Marbury is on the trading block.

Nov. 17, 2005: After practice in Denver, Marbury complains about Larry Brown’s structured offense and Brown rejects Marbury’s offer to become a shooting guard.

Dec. 30, 2005: The Marbury-Brown feud heats up in Milwaukee following Marbury’s 0-for-7 game in Orlando. “I don’t need to talk to him,” Marbury says. “He needs to come and find me.”

March 16, 2006: Marbury again complains about his offensive freedom, saying he must play like “Starbury.” After a back-and-forth with Brown, Marbury finally says, “I think it’s personal now. He always crosses the line.”

June 25, 2006: Days after Brown’s ouster, Marbury unveils plans for $14.98 Starbury sneakers.

Nov. 25, 2006: Marbury, in what looked like a protest to his benchings, takes no shots vs. Orlando and then talks of frustration with his lack of minutes from Isiah Thomas.

July 1, 2007: In a bizarre nine-minute interview on Bruce Beck’s show, Marbury’s cellphone rings, appears to say “it’s my better ho” calling and shouts over Beck while he’s giving highlights. It becomes a YouTube classic.

July 18, 2007: Marbury tells The Post he’ll play in Italy in two years when his contract is up – a remark that ruffles Knicks brass.

Aug. 21, 2007: Marbury appears to defend Michael Vick in an Albany TV interview while promoting his Starburys, saying “From what I hear, dogfighting is a sport.”

Aug. 23: Marbury backs off the claim, telling The Post Vick is “100-percent wrong,” then is told by James Dolan to release a clarifying statement.

Sept. 13: Marbury takes stand in Anucha Browne Sanders’ sexual harassment suit and admits to calling her “a black bitch” and having sex in a truck with a Knicks intern.

Nov. 13: After an argument in the hotel with Isiah Thomas about his minutes and starting role, Marbury bolts Phoenix the morning of the game, threatening not to return.

– Compiled by Marc Berman

marc.berman@nypost.com