NBA lore is full of strange and unforgettable moments — some of them even happening mid-air. For instance, there are the stories of Matt Barnes, who supposedly broke a plane window during a heated card game, and Marvin Barnes, who once refused to board a flight because the time zone change made it feel like a “time machine.”
Another story, though never fully confirmed, allegedly took place in November 2007. According to ESPN, it happened on a New York Knicks team flight, where Stephon Marbury got into a dispute with head coach Isiah Thomas. Things reportedly got so tense that the point guard even threatened to launch a smear campaign against his coach.
Another Knicks drama
It didn’t take long in the 2007-08 NBA campaign for a falling out to develop between “Starbury” and “Zeke.”
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Only a few weeks into the new year, the Knicks‘ familiar on-court struggles weren’t the only story capturing attention. Behind the scenes, a fiery clash between the veteran point guard and the head coach was making waves.
The New York Daily News, relying on a person close to the situation, reported that the incident occurred during the team’s flight to Phoenix.
Mid-air, Marbury learned from teammate Eddy Curry he had been removed from the starting lineup after only five games. Upset by the decision, the two-time All-Star confronted Thomas, the former Detroit Pistons star and current coach, at the front of the plane.
Witnesses later said that once back in his seat, Stephon hinted he held damaging information about the coach — and boldly threatened to release it if he was dropped from the starting lineup.
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“Isiah has to start me,” he allegedly told others. “I’ve got so much [stuff] on Isiah, and he knows it. He thinks he can [get] me. But I’ll [get] him first. You have no idea what I know.”
Marbury vs. Thomas
In the following games, the two-time All-Star was indeed moved to the bench and even missed one game in Los Angeles, though he was excused. The future CBA coach was soon brought back as a starter in the lineup.
Ultimately, neither change brought the turnaround the Knicks were hoping for. November was a disaster for the team, which dropped to a 5-10 record and suffered a tough eight-game losing streak.
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Since this story was never confirmed, it only leaves room for speculation. First, the Knicks were in complete chaos at that time, so any scandal seemed possible.
Second, “Zeke” was certainly no saint back then. If a player “had something on him,” it was probably not untrue. After all, in 2006, the Hall of Famer had been involved in a sexual harassment case filed by a former Knicks employee, Anucha Browne Sanders.
Third, it’s important to note that “Starbury” reportedly clashed with “Zeke” and the head coach’s predecessor and successor in NYC. Marbury had disputes with Larry Brown and later with Phil Jackson, which played a big role in why he was eventually bought out in late February 2009.
In any case, neither Stephon nor Isiah came out of this unscathed.
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Shortly after, both were heavily booed during home games at the iconic Madison Square Garden, and their positions within the team were questioned. Thomas was soon in jeopardy of being fired, and Marbury was reportedly placed on the trade block.