Marbury proves doubters wrong by winning 3rd CBA championship

"Ma Zhengwei" Stephon Marbury led Beijing to their third and second straight Chinese basketball league title and was voted the CBA finals MVP on Sunday night.

"Someone said I am old. Am I? " asked the 38-year-old former NBA All-Star after winning the finals' sixth game which was his 206th CBA outing.

Marbury, who finished with 24 points, seven assists and five rebounds,got his first finals MVP. He had 29.7 points per game in the series.

"Stephon deserves the award," said Beijing coach Min Lulei. "He is the one and only. I hope he can continue playing like this next season."

A lone wolf and trouble maker in NBA, Marbury has turned into the backbone of a Chinese club team.

He has played a big role in Beijing's three title runs, but not by being the furious tyro of his early years. By the time he arrived in Beijing, he was 32 and had played for two Chinese teams in as many seasons.

Beijing wanted Marbury as much as he wanted Beijing. Beijing needed a certain type of point guard, an experienced ball handler, to execute Min's strategy.

In the years since then, Marbury has thrived.

His younger Chinese teammates jokingly gave him a 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.

"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 on his Twitter-like Weibo account.

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