Former NBA star Stephon Marbury nailed a three-pointer for the Beijing Fly Dragons to cap off a professional basketball career that spanned 22 years. Marbury scored 20 points for the Fly Dragons, leading them to victory against Jiangsu.
No. 3 Stephon Marbury ends his basketball journey with a 3. And a win. pic.twitter.com/dIScfEZJBN
— LI Shuangfu (@LiShuangfu) February 11, 2018
Marbury is turning 41 later this month, the last player from the talented 1996 NBA Draft class to retire from professional basketball. Some of the most notable players in the game were members of that draft such as Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, and Ray Allen.
Later, Marbury posted a video showing his adoring fans in China after the game.
How it looks when you walk into your museum after hitting the last 3 of your career! 22 years baby God is amazing!!! #starbury pic.twitter.com/RLSfalrILE
— I AM PEACE STAR (@StarburyMarbury) February 12, 2018
This was an emotional game for Marbury who showed fans how much he loved playing in front of them.
Article Continues BelowStephon Marbury bowed to Chinese fans with tears after his last match in China. Farewell 'Political Commissar Ma' as the everlasting Chinese basketball legendary. As Yao Ming, Stephon Marbury will play as an ambassador in Sino-American basketball relationship in the future. pic.twitter.com/5aJ1ey0uVh
— Titan Sports (@titan_plus) February 11, 2018
Becky Davis of Agence France-Presse, detailed the festivities that followed Marbury’s farewell game as well as his message to the fans.
“A showreel of career highlights played to the saccharine tune of Wiz Khalifa's ‘See You Again’ before he took to centre court for a speech, bringing tears even to the beaming cheerleaders.
‘Ending my basketball career here in China completes me. This is it — no NBA, no anywhere. This is the way it's supposed to end, here with you and only you,’ he told the overflowing crowd at the Beijing Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, who yelled themselves hoarse.”
Marbury has spent his final basketball years with the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) after his NBA career ended. He played for 13 years in the NBA and is a member of the 1997 All-Rookie First Team, a two-time All-Star, and named to the All-NBA 3rd Team twice.