Stephon Marbury took his career from the NBA to China, turning what was a few sobering down years in The Association to monstrous success overseas. Now that he has called it wraps when it comes to his playing career, he has turned to coaching. But even if he's holding a clipboard now, he's still the “LeBron James” of China.

Marbury was named head coach of the Beijing Royal Fighters of the Chinese Basketball Association last June. Though his time as a coach has been brief, his players are already touting his knowledge of the game, along with his fame.

Kyle Fogg, who played four years at Arizona and now plays for Beijing in the CBA, has seen the LeBron James effect play out in less than a full season under Marbury:

“Man, he’s a real life LeBron James out here. The king,” Fogg told Andy and Brian Kamenetzky of The Athletic. “They love him to death. I mean, he’s won (three) championships and basically was the big gateway for really talented players to come out here and play. He kind of paved the way and is a hero in Beijing. It’s super dope. We’ll do introductions and he’ll get the loudest cheer in the gym. They love him, and obviously he knows. And he really knows the game, in and out. He works extremely hard, so I have no doubt he’ll have continued success as a coach.
But he can’t walk to the airport without a ton of photos. Grown men are nearly crying getting his autograph. It’s crazy. But he’s really good with it.”

Marbury was able to obtain the fame and adulation that was escaping him in his last few ventures in the NBA. Marbury's decline with the New York Knicks and finishing out with the Boston Celtics saw a star waning thanks to rumors about his poor work ethic and unruliness.

He was able to rebuild his image upon dazzling the CBA with his abilities and has garnered the respect of the new era with his knowledge of the game.