Report: Ankle injury ends Marbury's season

NEW YORK, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A left ankle injury has ended the season of New York Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury, it was reported Saturday.

The New York Post reported the injury is more serious than originally thought and that Dr. William Hamilton found more damage than first expected when he operated on Marbury Jan. 22. He discovered seven pain-causing bone fragments in the ankle.

Marbury's playing status has been up in the air constantly since he left the team Nov. 13, when he learned he was not in the starting lineup in a game at Phoenix.

He returned two days later, coming off the bench in the Knicks' next three games. But he then took three leaves of absence after his father died Dec. 2 while watching the Knicks' 115-104 loss to the Suns at Madison Square Garden.

Marbury, 30, ends the 2007-08 season with averages of 13.9 points and 4.7 assists in 24 games.