Larry Brown said he’ll be back. Isiah Thomas said he’ll back. Even Stephon Marbury claimed he’ll be back.

Wonderful.

One day after their 23-59 catastrophe ended, the three-headed monster that guided the Knicks into the ground vowed to return next season to resurrect Team Titanic. The least likely to return now, however, appears the Knicks point guard, judging by remarks by Thomas and Brown. Breaking a seven-day silence, Brown dismissed his latest medical woes, saying it won’t hinder his return and claimed he wants to “retire” a Knick. Of course, Brown made that claim in Detroit, too.

“I said that in Detroit. I wasn’t in control of that,” Brown said. “I’m sure I want to retire here. I want to fulfill my contract. I want to stay involved as long as they’d have me. I feel better [health-wise] than when I took the job.”

It’s hard to trust any sentiment coming from Knickland anymore. Brown stated yesterday he had the flu the past few days and the Knicks wanted him to stay away. However, the Knicks had claimed during his six-day absence, including in a press release, that Brown was “cleared” to coach. Brown suffered from acid reflux in Cleveland eight days ago but indicated the Knicks feared he had a heart condition because of his family history.

“[Team doctor] Lisa [Callahan] was being cautious and told me to stay away,” Brown said. “Isiah told me to stay away. When she gave me permission to come back, I came back. It’s not going to affect if I can coach or not. I’m better off than when I took the job. I don’t know how many coaches in this league can win 23 games and still have a job. I realize people have invested a lot in me and have faith in me.”

Thomas, breaking a two-month silence, said Brown will return but admitted he was not pleased, hardly giving him a ringing endorsement. “I think our players are better and I think our coach is better,” Thomas said bluntly. “I don’t think our record is indicative of the type of coach he is or the type of coach he has been. Something went wrong. Over the summer, Larry and I will figure it out.”

Thomas also said his own job is safe and has no plans to dismiss the Hall of Famer because of his track record.

“We haven’t considered making a change because of his history,” Thomas said. “He may not want to hear this, but outside Detroit and Indiana, he starts slow. He’s a slow starter. He picks up steam and players start doing what he wants him to do. I think that will be the case here.”

Each Knick held separate exit meetings with Thomas and Brown. Marbury said yesterday he had a terrific meeting with Brown during which he told him he “made me a better man.”

Marbury also revealed Brown told him he’d trade him for “Kobe Bryant” but not for “junk,” so he expects to stay.

However, both Thomas and Brown were not as strong, saying Marbury could be traded if it made the team “better.” Thomas also admitted he wanted to suspend Marbury after his caustic comments about Brown but the Knicks coach wouldn’t let him. When asked if Marbury will be traded – and Minnesota has interest – Thomas said:

“I am loyal to winning. I am not loyal to any singular individual. If we can make our team better, then I’m going to do what I need to do. If that means trading two, three, four players, I want to win. I’m committed to that. That’s my only agenda. Winning basketball players.”

Isiah also warned that he does not want a repeat of the sniping in the newspapers and it wasn’t just Brown and Marbury. It was Brown and several players.

“I don’t think there’s ever a time a player and coach should be in the newspaper going at each other,” Thomas said. “Hopefully, that won’t happen again. The coach is always right even if he isn’t.”

Brown said he would try to change his ways as far as ripping players. “Isiah told me something,” Brown said. “I really think I have to think about it more. I talked to Stephon about it. Until you coach in New York, you don’t understand how tough it is to be a player and difficult coaching in this environment. I have to be careful. But I also have to be impeccable with my word.”

Brown minimized his health woes, and may not undergo a fourth bladder surgery in a week as he had previously thought. Brown said he may just have more tests.