Former Celtics guard Stephon Marbury told the New York Post that he plans on sitting out the upcoming NBA season to concentrate on his businesses.
"I'm resting, doing what Michael Jordan did, enjoy life, do things I haven't done in 16 years, keep building my empire," Marbury told the Post. "I wasn't going to Boston for that money. It was a prudent business decision to take off this year."
The 13-year vet turned down Boston's veteran minimum offer of $1.3 million in July. Marbury didn't quietly make the announcement, either — the former Knick used the spotlight to rip his former team and its coach, Mike D'Antoni. Marbury was banished from the New York club last season after training camp before landing in Boston.
"I'm just talking as a fan and New Yorker who grew up loving the Knicks: Why would I give you my money to watch them?" said Marbury, who plans to attend the Knicks' home opener Oct. 31 against the Sixers with his kids. "This is atrocious. Guys coming down court, just raising up 3-pointers from anywhere. The coaching is horrible. What kind of coaching is this? If they shoot like that in the game, imagine how they shoot in practice. New Yorkers deserve better decisions form the front office and New York City has to deal with this mess."
Despite a long layoff, the 32-year-old Brooklyn native intends to join an NBA team for the 2010-11 campaign.
"People can say what they want and act like God," Marbury said. "A year from now, you don't know what I'm going to be like. I got to 197 pounds last camp. I'm from the gutter. I can go anywhere."
