Since joining the CBA in 2010, Marbury has been a force in China’s premier basketball league, bagging three championships with the Beijing Ducks.
Now, for his great contribution to the league, Marbury has been granted a “green card” by the Chinese government, becoming a permanent resident in that country.
Marbury, the former New York Knicks point guard, received his Foreigner’s Permanent Residence Card from Beijing vice mayor Zhang Jiandong. He is the first foreign player in the CBA’s 21-year history to get such an honor.
“I’m so thankful and blessed to receive my green card today from the Beijing government. It’s a true honor to be part of the capital of China. I hope I can not only help win more championships but continue to bring positive energy and love,” Marbury said.
At the NBA, the two-time All-Star was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks as fourth overall pick in 1996 but was then traded to Minnesota, where he and Kevin Garnett led the Timberwolves to the playoffs in 1997 and 1998.
After three seasons, he was sent to New Jersey, where he blossomed into one of the league’s best players and made his first All-Star Game appearance. He was the Nets’ top scorer but failed to bring the team to the playoffs.
While playing for the Phoenix Suns, Marbury made his second All-Star Game appearance and helped the team reach the playoffs. But Marbury, Amarie Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and the rest of the Suns were ousted by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round.
It was in New York, his hometown, where Marbury’s career started to founder, largely due to conflicts with the coaching staff. For five seasons, his feuds with coaches Larry Brown and Isaiah Thomas were well-documented by the media.
His last NBA team, the Boston Celtics, offered him a one-year deal for the 2009-2010 season. But he refused to sign the contract, marking his unceremonious exit from the league.
The moment he brought his talent to China in 2010, Marbury quickly became a phenomenon, averaging 22 points and nine assists in his first season in the CBA.
After winning his first championship with the Beijing Ducks in 2012, a statue of the hugely popular Marbury was unveiled on the lawn of the MasterCard Center in the Chinese capital city.
In December, a museum dedicated to the American basketball star opened in Beijing.
