Stephon Marbury named to Beijing government “role model” list

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When Stephon Marbury left the NBA back in 2010 it was hard to see things going well for him in the long run. Marbury had multiple feuds with coaches, was not welcome in many NBA locker rooms and even ate Vaseline live on a webcam.

Luckily though, things have turned around in a major way for Marbury since those times and he has clearly found a home in China where he now stars for the Bejing Ducks. Since the start of his career in the CBA in 2010, Marbury has won two CBA championships, had a statue built for him and now been named as an official government approved role model.

(h/t to DeAntae Price for the heads up)

It is a terrific accomplishment for Marbury and one that continues to show how much his life has changed since he arrived in China. The idea of a government-approved Chinese role model is a bit odd to an American audience, naturally. But to be honored in such a way is a pretty cool thing in itself, and to be the only athlete and foreigner on the list is a unique honor. As someone who grew up in New Jersey following Marbury’s Nets career it is really nice to see Steph so clearly happy after all he has been through. And that happiness and peace is what this award really means, regardless of where it happened.