Stephon Marbury was suspended one game and docked nearly $400,000 in salary Friday by the New York Knicks, who say he refused to play in a loss this week at Detroit.
The disgruntled guard insists coach Mike D'Antoni never ordered him to play. The discipline by the Knicks clearly escalates the tension between the team and its one-time star, who has not played this season under their new coach. ''If you say I got to play, I'm going to play,'' Marbury, speaking before the suspension, said in Friday's New York Post. ''If he said I have to play, guess what, I'm going to get on the court and play, period. If I refuse to play, I'm getting suspended. I never told him I'm not going to play. Those words never came out of my mouth. That's insubordination.''
Marbury will not be paid when he sits out Saturday's home game against Golden State and will lose an additional game's pay for his conduct Wednesday in the 110-96 defeat. Marbury earns $21 million in salary this year, drawing about $190,000 a game.
Marbury was not in D'Antoni's plans after the coach was hired, but trades and injuries have left the Knicks short-handed. After two trades last week, Marbury suited up at Milwaukee but declined to play. At the time, D'Antoni said he wasn't angry and didn't consider the decision subordination.
Iverson apologizes to Pistons
Allen Iverson apologized Friday for skipping a Detroit Pistons practice on Thanksgiving and insisted it won't happen again.
The standout guard was the only player who didn't show up when the Pistons worked out Thursday.
''First of all, I have no excuses,'' Iverson said after Detroit's shootaround for its game against the Milwaukee Bucks. ''It was a personal matter, but I just handled it the wrong way. I didn't call and let them know what was going on.''
Before the game, coach Michael Curry said he would decide Iverson's playing status during the game.
Rodney Stuckey was to start in place of Iverson, who told the Detroit Free Press he ''would accept whatever happens.''
The Pistons acquired Iverson from Denver for Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb on Nov. 3.
When Iverson was with the 76ers, he had a famous rant in 2002 lashing out at critics complaining about his practice habits.
