Stephon Marbury, Isiah Thomas appear to have chilly relationship

BY IAN BEGLEY
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Saturday, December 29th 2007, 4:00 AM

When Isiah Thomas traded for Stephon Marbury nearly four years ago, the executive and point guard were considered inseparable. Thomas stood up for Marbury whenever he feuded with a player or coach and seemed convinced that the Coney Island-bred guard was the key to the Knicks' success.

But this season, Marbury's relationship with Thomas seemingly has cooled, and with Marbury away from the team for the past nine days mourning his father's death on Dec.2, he apparently is not turning to Thomas in his time of need. The Knicks say that a team official speaks to Marbury every day, but Thomas said Friday he hasn't spoken to Marbury in "a day and a half, two days maybe." One day before that, the Knicks' president/head coach said he had not spoken to Marbury in "two or three days."

Regardless of the exact time of their last conversation, it has become increasingly clear the coach and point guard are not exactly best friends. On Thursday, Thomas for the first time raised speculation regarding Marbury's status with the Knicks when he said "I don't know" in response to a question regarding Marbury's potential return to the team. A few hours after Thomas' statement, a Knicks PR official called Marbury to confirm whether the point guard was returning to the Knicks. Marbury told the team official that he would return some time after Jan.1.

In the past few days, Marbury's teammates have said they will welcome him back whenever he is ready, but the point guard fractured his relationship with Thomas and his teammates when he left the Knicks before their road game against Phoenix on Nov. 13. Marbury deserted the Knicks in the desert after Thomas told him on the team flight that he wanted to reduce his role. Marbury flew to New York before the Suns game and the team fined him one game check ($180,000). Marbury maintains he had permission to leave the team and has since filed a grievance through the NBA Players Association.

On Thursday, Thomas said he hadn't thought about how he would have to juggle the lineup when Marbury returns. But yesterday, Thomas said he would wait to see what condition Marbury was in before figuring out where he fits.

FIGHTING WORDS: Eight-time world boxing champion Roy Jones Jr. participated in the Knicks' practice to promote his fight against Felix Trinidad at the Garden on Jan. 19. He said he told Thomas and the Knicks to "keep their heads up" when he worked out with them in Greenburgh. But after practice, he offered coaching advice that he did not share with Thomas. "It's hard to make a grown man do what you want, especially when they got all they want," said Jones, who wore a 4 on the back of his jersey because he said he is going to knock Trinidad out in the fourth round.