"But you don't know how much he's been damaged psychologically playing here."

"Here" of course, is with the Knicks , where his rocky tenure came to a disastrous end when it became clear that coach Mike D'Antoni had no intention of playing him and team president Donnie Walsh long refused to buy him out of his $21 million contract.

When asked if he thought the point guard indeed had been "damaged psychologically" by the Knicks , Russell said: "He may have been. No matter how strong you are, that kind of stuff that went on this season was so ridiculous."

After suiting up in the preseason, Marbury was banished to the bench and later told to stay away from the team before finally being bought out and signing with the Celtics on Feb. 27.

"I think what the Knicks did to him, having the whole thing play out in the papers [was wrong]," said Russell, who signed copies of his book about Red Auerbach, Me and Red: My Coach, My Lifelong Friend.

"I think he and the coach had had a relationship in Phoenix and the coach said, 'I don't want you here.' That's the impression I got. The fact that he knew he wasn't wanted, it doesn't matter who started it."

And Russell isn't surprised Marbury has blended in well with his new team. He credited Boston coach Doc Rivers with easing the transition.

"I think Doc did a good job not putting undue pressure on him to go out and be an all-star," Russell said. "I would not put pressure on him to save the ship."

Marbury largely has served as a backup to Rajon Rondo, who helped Boston to the NBA crown last year. While the Celtics are trying to repeat, Russell led them to eight straight titles from 1959-66.

"For us it was routine," said Russell, who won 11 championships in Boston.

Russell realizes it will be a tougher task without Kevin Garnett, out since late in the regular season with a knee injury.

"It's a different team without him," Russell said.

It's different with Marbury, too.