Beijing extends contract with former NBA star Marbury

Beijing has extended the contract with former NBA star Stephon Marbury to 2017, the team's coach Min Lulei confirmed on Friday.

"The team has extended the contract with Marbury for one year until 2017, which means he will play for Beijing for two more seasons," said Min while attending a forum at Beijing Sports University on Friday.

The 38-year-old Marbury, who signed a three-year contract with Beijing in 2013, has just led the team to their third and second straight Chinese basketball league title and was voted the CBA finals MVP.

Min said: "Although Marbury is almost 40 years old, I believe in his ability and attitude. The team will give him a proper training schedule, and limit his playing time to save his energy while competing in future games."

"And also, we must lift domestic players to a much higher level and allow them to perform to their best," he added.

A lone wolf and trouble maker in the National Basketball Association, Marbury has turned into the backbone of the Chinese club.

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 had played for two Chinese teams.

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.

"I think Marbury represents the spirit of the team. All the players must learn from him. No matter what trouble you meet on the court or off the court, you must have the winning faith, the never-give-up spirit," Min said. Endi