In more than forty years of China-US relations, no professional sport has brought the two countries closer together than basketball. The game has transcended cultural barriers, created an enormous year-round market, and professional stars from both nations have succeeded on both sides of the Pacific. Cases in point - China's Yao Ming, who made a huge impact in the NBA and is now a memeber of the Hall of Fame. And more recently, American Stephon Marbury, nicknamed “Ma Zhengwei” by his Chinese fans, continues to forge a lasting legacy in this country, both on and off the court. CGTN's Mark Fontes has the story.  

Six years on the Chinese hardcourt, three CBA championships, the Great Wall Friendship Award laureate, Beijing’s “permanent resident”. These are some of the footsteps former NBA great Stephon Marbury has made in China. But his fondest memory is still the first championship he won here.

STEPHON MARBURY FORMER NBA & CBA PLAYER "The game was memorable for a lot of people because when we were playing, we fought out till the end, so it was really a tight game all the way through."

Following that game, those once skeptical of Marbury were convinced of his skills, ardour and his core leadership of a team. And fans soon showed their admiration—voting to build a bronze statue of him near Wukesong Arena.

STEPHON MARBURY FORMER NBA & CBA PLAYER "I feel so blessed, so honored. 500,000 people vote on one day. It was so cool to see people vote there about me. You know that was something that will have a place in my mind, in my heart."

From the NBA to the CBA, Marbury was in a phase of transition. China’s rapid development gave him hope and passion.

STEPHON MARBURY SIX-TIME CBA ALL-STAR "I’ve seen the change, the speed and how things happened here. You know China has over 400 million people who play basketball here, it shows the love for the game. China, you have the best place in China, and you have guys from America, overseas who come to China to play."

Marbury later won another two CBA championships, and several MVP honors. He has found new meaning for playing basketball in China. Fans cordially call him “Ma Zhengwei”, meaning troop leader, a salute to his influence and dedication to the team.

STEPHON MARBURY THREE-TIME CBA CHAMPION "I do like my name some people call me. I think from a spiritual standpoint, and able to lead a group of people in a way how he did, for people to be able to go on a basketball court, commit themselves together and become more eager on the court and win a championship. I’m lucky to China finding me in a really amazing situation, because the Chinese, they are all eager to learn, they want to grow their aim, and I don’t mind teaching because I love seeing other people get better."

In 2018, the basketball legend ended his professional career. He now coaches at the Affiliated High School of Peking University, and also started an elite basketball camp. He hopes Chinese youngsters can learn from his wealth of experience.

STEPHON MARBURY THREE-TIME CBA CHAMPION “Because of all the work I’ve done in America, the ups and downs, the errors, the errors allowed me to come to China, to make positive decisions and outcomes. Now I get the opportunity to teach, I get the opportunity to share my knowledge and understanding of the game I love. My goal is to give them something that they want. That’s basically what I am doing for the kids in China."

Marbury says when someone shows you love, the only thing to do is to show love back, and given the man's contributions to Chinese basketball, it is clear that he has done exactly that.

Mark Fontes, CGTN.