5 things about Stephon Marbury, ex-NBA player and All-Star who is a basketball icon in China
Stephon Marbury found stardom for the second time round in China, winning three championships with the Beijing Ducks; he now coaches the CBA’s Beijing Royal Fighters
From ex-NBA player to revered basketball icon in China, Stephon Marbury's story is undeniably compelling. After flying half way across the world and winning three championships with the Beijing Ducks, it’s clear that the two-time NBA All-Star’s career did not fizzle out when his career in the US came to an end in 2009. Instead, he took a leap of a faith and found an unexpected career rebirth in China.
Here are five things to know about one of China’s favourite Americans, who now coaches the CBA’s Beijing Royal Fighters.
He is one of the few foreigners to receive a Chinese green card
In 2015, Marbury expressed his gratitude on Weibo when he became the first foreign basketball player to be granted a Chinese green card. This was breaking news because China issued only 5,000 green cards between 2004 to 2013, according to China Daily. His permanent resident title means that he no longer has to apply for a visa to remain in China, where he has lived since 2011.
Today, he continues to flourish on the basketball scene despite his retirement from the Chinese Basketball Association’s (CBA) Beijing Ducks in 2017 at the age of 40. Now, he acts as head coach for the Beijing Royal Fighters.
He has his own statue and museum in China