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Former NBA All-Star Marbury finds rebirth in China

Xinhua, March 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

"Ma Zhengwei" Stephon Marbury laid down another milestone in his blissful Chinese journey when he played his 200th Chinese league game for Beijing and won.

Tuesday's overtime home win sent Beijing into the top league's final against Liaoning. Marbury anchored in Beijing's two championships in 2012 and 2014 and will be well looked upon for a third one.

A lone wolf and trouble maker in the National Basketball Association, Marbury has turned into the head and spirit of a Chinese team.

His younger Chinese teammates jokingly gave the 38-year-old a typical Chinese military position - "Zhengwei" or political commissar, whose work includes education, discipline inspection and uniting officers and soldiers.

Marbury gives orders on court and offers advice and encouragement off court.

The former NBA All-Star has found peace and success in his adopted hometown and he says he is grateful

"Wow I can't believe it's been that many games that fast. It's been the best 200 games of my career," wrote Marbury on weibo, a Chinese equivalent to Twitter, after Tuesday's match where he dished out a game-tying three-pointer with 6.6 seconds remaining to force an overtime and scored nine of Beijing's 11 points in the additional time.

The veteran finished with a game-high 38 points.

"So thankful Beijing gave me the opportunity to play in the Capital of CHINA. The memories will live in me throughout my history of living,#Love is love#" he wrote.

'Love is love', Marbury's catchword, follows the now well-behaved player wherever he goes and Chinese fans and the Beijing team never hide their love to the American.

Outside Beijing's home court Wukesong Stadium stands a Marbury statue which was built by Beijing fans. In April 2014, the American was named honorary citizen of Beijing.

A lone wolf in NBA, Marbury is now the leader of the pack in China.

"I always talk about the characteristics of the wolf and Marbury speaks for it. The wolves are aggressive, don't easily flinch and they are united. I hope we keep going like a pack of wolves," said Beijing head coach Min Lulei after Tuesday's games. Endit