National Basketball Association

Marbury to free agents: Don't go to Knicks

Published Jul. 2, 2009 12:51 a.m. ET

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Stephon Marbury, who becomes a free agent again today, believes star players should be cautious about signing with the Knicks because of Mike D'Antoni's offensive scheme and the way the organization treats people.

"I wouldn't want to play in that system,'' Marbury told The Post. "That system can't win championships. You can't win championships if you don't talk about defense. In Boston, the coaches even play defense.''

Marbury said he believes being exiled for four months "mentally damaged'' him and affected his Boston performance.

"I knew it wasn't about money,'' Marbury said of his exile.

"They spent $3 million on a 29th pick. They could've given $3 million to Anucha (Browne-Sanders). I knew it was personal. It's about ego and power. I've never been so happy to be out of someplace. The way I was treated, lied to, grown men doing this that have stature.

"When Larry Brown saw me in Charlotte when we played them, he said, 'It looks like you died and went to heaven,''' Marbury added. "I told him, now I know what you went through.''

Marbury, who still doesn't have an agent, hopes to re-sign with Boston, though he's talked to his former coach, Washington's Flip Saunders. Marbury also did not rule out Europe.