Stephon Marbury reported to retire soon

Stephon Marbury [File photo: Chinanews.com]

Stephon Marbury, former NBA star and current CBA player for the Beijing Fly Dragons, is set to retire after the last game of the season against Jiangsu Tongxi on February 11, reports ESPN.

After a career spanning 13 years in the NBA and 9 years in the CBA, Marbury reportedly said that he deserved to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

"I'm tired, man. I'm tired. I played 22 years," said the nearly 41-year-old Marbury.

The two-time NBA All-Star achieved another peak in his career after coming to China. In 2010, he was the biggest NBA star to play in the CBA. After one season with Shanxi Fenjiu and another with Foshan Long Lions, he joined the Beijing Ducks in 2011. 

It was after joining the Beijing Ducks that Marbury again showed his full potential on the court, becoming one of the most successful foreign players in the CBA.

From 2011 to 2015, Marbury led the Beijing Ducks to win three championships and was ranked the most valuable foreign player in the 2012-2013 and 2014-2015 seasons of the CBA.

Beijing team celebrates after beats Liaoning 106-98 in Game 6 in Benxi on Sunday for an overall 4-2 victory in the best-of-seven finals and defends the title of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). [Photo: Xinhua]

These successes won Marbury much love from Chinese basketball fans, especially those in Beijing who have been chanting "Most valuable player" at him during the games. A statue of Marbury holding the CBA championship cup was installed in Beijing Wukesong Basketball Park by fans. 

And a film adaptation of his career in the CBA called My Other Home was made in 2016.

In 2015, Marbury received permanent residency in China and was awarded honorary citizenship by authorities in Beijing in recognition of his role in leading the Beijing Ducks to their second league title in three years.

The Beijing Fly Dragons are currently ranked 12th in the CBA, and so are out of the playoffs as there are only four rounds remaining.