After bouncing around with several teams in the National Basketball Association, former All-Star Stephon Marbury says he has finally found his home in China.

"I plan on living here for the rest of my life," said the 37-year-old Marbury. "I think they respect me enough to be able to give me the opportunity."

Like Us on Facebook

The Brooklyn-born point guard out of Georgia Tech played the longest in the NBA with the New York Knicks, where he earned a bad rap after his often acrimonious relationship with the coaching staff.

Nicknamed "Starbury" in his youth, the moniker probably referred more to his not-so-selfless style of play than his star qualities in the latter years of his NBA career. But a rejuvenated and apparently "changed" Marbury is making his presence felt a world away in Beijing.

After turning down a "diappointing" $1.3-million contract offer from the Boston Celtics in 2009, Marbury packed his bags in 2010 and left for Beijing to play for the China Basketball Association where he has led the Beijing Ducks to two championships.

Marbury takes his leadership chores in the team seriously and Beijing fans have christened him "Ma Zhengwei" or "Political Commissar Ma". This April, he was named by the mayor as an honorary resident.

"I don't make nowhere near the money that I made when I was playing in the NBA," said Marbury. "But I'm way happier, so I mean, what is that to say?"

His drives to the basket may not be as dazzling as they used to be but many credit Marbury's 180-degree turn in public image to his accessibility to fans and willingness to soak up the local culture.

No limos for Marbury in Beijing. To get around the city, he uses the subway - much to the delight of fans who take pictures with him wearing headphones and a backpack. He dines at local eateries and supports the much-adored local football team Guoan.

"Marbury was seen as a loner in America, but he's completely changed his image here in China. He's shown huge interest helping both his team and young people generally," Chinese sportscaster Xu Jicheng observed.

Many ex-NBA players, including Tracy McGrady, Metta World Peace and Gilbert Arenas, have played in the CBA but no one has ever been accepted beyond being seen as mere basketball mercenaries except Marbury.

Marbury said he is giving it two or more years in the CBA before retiring. He hopes to coach the Chinese national team someday.

Tagscba