Stephon Marbury says he's willing to help Chinese basketball

Retiring ex-NBA star Stephon Marbury has said he would happily answer the call if Yao Ming, president of Chinese Basketball Association asked him to help with Chinese basketball.

Former NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury speaks during an interview at a micro-museum of him in Beijing, April 27, 2017. [File Photo: AP]

"If Yao (ex-NBA star) ask to help I will help! It would be a pleasure to be a part of the new generation era." Retiring ex-NBA star Stephon Marbury said on his microblog on Monday.

"I think basketball will continue to rise in China with more people helping. I think my 22 years basketball experience can be useful," the 40-year-old Marbury added. The former Beijing Ducks star is now playing for Aolong in the Chinese Baskeball Association (CBA) league, and he will retire at the end of regular season after Aolong missed out on play-off qualification.

"Feb 11, 2018 will be the end of the best basketball class ever. I'm so thankful to Aolong for allowing me to play my last season in Beijing." Marbury said. "At the end you (Aolong) gave me my final wish. For this there will always be a special place in my heart for the organization. I wanted to play basketball at 40 years old in China and it happened."

Marbury, started his NBA career in 1996, played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and Boston Celtics.

Marbury started his CBA career in 2010 in Shanxi and played for the Beijing Ducks from 2011 to 2017 and helped the Ducks to CBA championships in 2012, 2014 and 2015. He is widely considered to be the greatest foreign player to ever play in the CBA.