Stephon Marbury Buys a Ticket to Watch the Knicks and Lakers

Stephon Marbury, exiled two weeks ago by Donnie Walsh, was back on the sidelines to watch the Knicks last night. The only catch? This time he bought his own ticket, sitting courtside next to the Laker girls, chatting with Knicks super-fan Spike Lee before the game and meeting with curious reporters at halftime. From Marc Berman of the New York Post:

"I'm earning my check by doing nothing," Marbury said. "I'm enjoying it to the fullest. I can go in and out of the country when I want during the season. They'll make a decision when they're ready to make a decision. I'm getting healthy, adding two, three years to my career. This has been great for me, able to heal."

What's he so eager to go in and out of the country for -- he realized the Real Madrid offer was fake, right? In any case, Mike D'Antoni downplayed Marbury's presence, saying the guard's presence didn't violate the team's "stay away" order from a couple of weeks ago. I'm not sure how that's possible, but perhaps the team doesn't want to get into the position of trying to police an unenforceable edict.

Marbury did have an interesting comment about his future, saying he's been in contact with several teams and that "a lot of people will be shocked" at the team he's apparently settled on joining once his buyout is complete. When that actually happens is anyone's guess, but I can't help but wonder if his trip to the game was an attempt to prove just how annoying he can be should the Knicks continue to let his situation linger.