Beloved in Beijing, Stephon Marbury eyes another championship

Calum MacLeod | USA TODAY

BEIJING — He's a man called horse, who plays for the Ducks. He fights like a wolf, says his Chinese coach, and kicks like a horse, complain his vanquished opponents.

Former NBA bad boy Stephon Marbury led the Beijing Ducks to a 3-2 lead Thursday night in the best-of-seven finals of the most exciting Chinese basketball championships in years.

Known throughout China as Ma Bu Li, his name in Chinese which includes the surname Horse, former All-Star Marbury, now 38, has launched basketball fever to new heights across mainland China, and cemented his status as the capital's most famous and beloved foreigner.

While the U.S. and Chinese governments regularly collide over regional and global issues, the Brooklyn native has captured Beijing's heart with his public love for the city – and his winning ways. A Ducks victory Sunday will secure the team and Marbury's third championship in four years.

"Marbury is my hero," said sixth-grader Li Hengzhou as he practiced after school Thursday in a crowded old city neighborhood.

"I like him so much, he's the spirit of Beijing," said Li, 12, throwing his ball into an imaginary hoop on his apartment's outer wall.

That night at the Wukesong Stadium, built for Beijing's 2008 Summer Olympics, the 18,000-strong crowd waved flags and chanted "MVP! MVP!" as Marbury, the top scorer and team savior once again, stood at the free-throw line in the final minute.

He can't get that title – the MVP is reserved for Chinese players – but Marbury already boasts multiple awards, including some from the ruling Communist Party. There's a statue outside the stadium, a golden key to the city and his induction as an Honorary Citizen of Beijing. In January, the Party declared him one of the "Top 10 Models in Beijing," the only foreigner among candidates chosen for their public service, political correctness and example to others.

Yes, that's the same Stephon Marbury who sparked scandal and disappointment during his NBA years. In China, Marbury has knuckled down, inspired teammates and won over fans with his redemption story of the bad boy made good with a second chance.

The Party's Capital Civilization Office, the same office that has tried and failed to ban spitting in Beijing, said last year that Marbury "filled the team with strong positive energy" and "actively participates in several public interest activities, he is spreading love in China."

Love and positive thinking dominate Marbury's posts to his four million followers on Sina Weibo, a micro-blogging platform similar to Twitter, which is banned in China.

Fans here have embraced him as a prodigal son, a humble celebrity who rides the city subway, and has volunteered to help clean it.

Marbury has mastered some Chinese swear words, though his speaking ability remains limited, but overall he remains well-behaved and scandal-free. In a food-obsessed society, he shows off good chopstick skills and sports an "I love China" tattoo on his arm. His family members get hounded by Chinese media, which enthusiastically report details such as Marbury's eldest daughter studying Chinese at a New York university, and translating reports for him into English.

He has published a popular autobiography, and appeared in a musical about his Beijing success, but not everything has turned to gold. A Chinese movie about him appears stalled, while a basketball training camp in his name has stopped sessions. Sales of his brand-name but moderately priced sporting goods at a Taobao shop, part of Alibaba, look reasonable, though some customers report quality problems.

As Marbury's fame has grown, so has criticism, unsurprisingly from opposing fans, who complain that he often kicks when he shoots, but goes unpunished.

"Beijing is the center, but sports should be fair, it's a waste of money to invite Marbury if he violates the fairness of the game, he's not a hero at all," grumbled Yu Shengjiao, 35, a fan of the Liaoning Flying Leopards, who now trail the Ducks. "I always support Chinese players, the foreign players are not as important as most people think."

Marbury replied to his critics Friday. "These people who speak of me know nothing about me," he wrote on Sina Weibo. "They have no clue about my work ethic nor my desire to win. I love when they say what I can't do and I show different."

When retirement beckons, other roles are likely in China, where Marbury is already a spokesman for a national fitness campaign aimed at rising obesity levels. In December, he told the Associated Press he wants to coach China's national team one day, and live there for the rest of his life.

Yao Ming, the giant of Chinese basketball, and now a government adviser, is pushing to make sports more fun at school, and to get more kids playing basketball.

Shooting hoops Thursday, young expert Li Hengzhao also looked to the future, both his and Marbury's. "I think the NBA is more professional, I want to play in America like Yao Ming," he said. "Marbury is good, but we need teamwork. If Marbury retires, I wish other players could shine too."

Contributing: Sunny Yang