Marbury shuns NBA for China
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Shanghai Daily, December 9, 2011
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Stephon Marbury lays up in a CBA game. |
Former NBA All-Star and Beijing Ducks player Stephon Marbury will retire in China and not go back to NBA.
The 34-year-old point guard said he had found a second home in China and may probably spend the rest of his life here.
"People in the United States keep asking me if I'm going back to the NBA. I keep telling them I don't have a desire to play in the NBA," Marbury wrote on his microblog yesterday. "The CBA is my home and what I love. I'm letting everyone know on my page now that I will be retiring in China. I want to hang my jersey up here."
Averaging 23 points, 5.3 assists and 2 steals, the fans' favorite has been in superlative form as Beijing seems to coasting towards a CBA title this season. The Ducks are currently top of the league after eight straight wins, including wins over defending champions Guangdong Southern Tigers and last year's runners-up Xinjiang Flying Tigers.
Marbury first played for the Shanxi Dragons in the 2009-2010 season before joining the Foshan Dralions and then on to the Ducks.
"I love all the fans and the people in China. China is my home," he wrote on his blog.
The New Yorker has on several occasions said that he loves the culture in Beijing and probably may settle down for good in the city.
He has also been harboring a dream - to coach China's men's basketball team at the Olympics.
"I can't wait to one day help lead this country towards preparing to win a medal. That will be a highlight of my life," he said.
He also revealed that his signature Starbury shoes will hit the market in China by the end of the month.
