National Basketball Association

Report: Marbury will sit out season

Published Oct. 17, 2009 3:53 p.m. ET

foxsports

Stephon Marbury says he has "shut everything down" for the season to work on his businesses and will return to the NBA next season, according to a New York Post story.

Marbury, unsigned as a free agent this summer after turning down the Boston Celtics' offer of $1.3 million, vows he will play again.

"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 newspaper. "I wasn't going to Boston for that money. It was a prudent business decision to take off this year."

Marbury played 24 regular-season games and 14 in the playoffs for the Celtics in 2009.

Marbury said he is working on deals with his Starbury company, which sells apparel online. He said he's also lining up stores to sell merchandise.