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The N.B.A. was far more popular, with higher television ratings and a huge fan base crazy about Kobe Bryant and other stars. The N.B.A. also had Yao Ming, the Chinese center who became an All-Star with the Houston Rockets and was so popular in China that domestic television ratings doubled and tripled for Rockets games. Those advantages are now fading. Unable to overcome injuries, Yao retired from the N.B.A. after last season and is a part of the C.B.A. as the owner and public face of its team in Shanghai. Television ratings for the Chinese league have jumped, partly because of the added star appeal of exiled N.B.A. players like Chandler, while ratings for the N.B.A. have declined since Yao’s peak years. The C.B.A. has also received a boost from its most surprising star, Stephon Marbury, who has proved unexpectedly adroit at public relations in China after his tumultuous time in the N.B.A. Perhaps the N.B.A.’s biggest challenge of all is that the C.B.A. is part of the Chinese government, under the control of the ruling Communist Party. New York Times

Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Yao Ming, Kobe Bryant, Stephon Marbury, China 

Another player I talked to Sunday night said the guys in his locker room were concerned Cousins could wind up out of the league if he doesn't get it together. Talent and potential will keep problem players around longer than they merit, but it's not infinite. Ask Stephon Marbury. ESPN.com

Sacramento Kings, Trade, DeMarcus Cousins, Stephon Marbury 

“The attitude toward how they do business is totally different,” but that doesn’t translate to a whole lot of difference for business owners,” Mr. Marbury said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. “Some people speak about it being a Communist country, and I’m like well, in America [there’s] democracy, but there are just rules before they tell you you can’t do something. Here in China they just tell you right away, ‘No you can’t do that.’” Wall Street Journal

Stephon Marbury, China 

As for Chinese basketball, Mr. Marbury is hoping he and other NBA players will help influence Chinese players and help China produce more stars like Yao Ming. “There are some guys that have potential,” he said. Chinese players should learn “the mentality of being like a dog on the court, just hard, aggressive … just a beast, a guy who’s just nasty, that’s what needs to be instilled into the Chinese players.” “As more people come to this country and continue to implement the things that they learned,” Chinese players will be able to “go to the States get on the basketball court,” he said. Wall Street Journal

Stephon Marbury, China 

He also plans to restart his Starbury sneaker and sports apparel line this month. His playing career in the N.B.A. and his war with the N.B.A. are over. “I don’t have a desire to come back to the N.B.A.,” Marbury said. “I’m done; I’m running for something; I’m not running for them no more.” New York Times

Stephon Marbury, China 

Or maybe Marbury was simply content. “I have no complaints,” he said. “I’m blessed; life is good.” New York Times

Stephon Marbury, China 

Marbury, 34, is flourishing off the court as well. He said acclimating to a new culture was the best thing about this part of his odyssey, which has taken him from Lincoln High School on Coney Island to Georgia Tech to the N.B.A. After an often-tumultuous 13-year N.B.A. career, Marbury said that in China, he had found a home, a revitalized career. He maintains residences in Los Angeles and New York, but China, he said, is his soul’s new resting place. “It’s just something about the serenity and peace of the country,” he said. “I can’t really explain it; you’ve got to experience it.” New York Times

Stephon Marbury, China 

Marbury is in a great space: his own driver, an apartment in Beijing in the equivalent of the Wall Street district and a team that could help him win his first pro basketball championship. “I never thought in my life that I’d end up going to China and wanting to spend the rest of my life here,” he said. New York Times

Stephon Marbury, China 

Marbury even recently counseled Smith, a former Nugget, after he had clashes with his team, which threatened to void his contract. The team suspected Smith was purposely missing practices and games once he realized he would be held to his contract. “I spoke with J. R. and I told him to make himself completely vulnerable to love: embrace the culture,” Marbury said. “You’ve got to acclimate yourself to something different, you’ve got to grow into it — and then you get this stillness and calmness about yourself.” New York Times

Stephon Marbury, China 

Bill Duffy, a longtime sports agent with deep roots in China, has followed Marbury since his high school days. He also represented Yao Ming when he entered the N.B.A. “The guy was losing his mind before he left,” Duffy said of Marbury. “Relatives all over him, living in a fish bowl in New York City, this issue, that issue; sitting on the bench with the Knicks, they won’t let you play, then being banned from the facility. He just needed to get someplace where people don’t know him and he can just be a regular person but still have that allure as a basketball player. Just in a condensed form.” New York Times

Stephon Marbury, China 

Marbury has received a very different kind of welcome, and is already considered one of China’s most popular basketball players. “I would Love to End My Career here in Beijing. That would be a Perfect ending,” wrote Marbury. HoopsWorld

Stephon Marbury, Lockout, China 

Marbury even spoke out to defend Smith from the negative press he received last night: “I think JR played a great floor game. Being that he didn’t get the proper rest he needed he did well. He created for his teammates and he made them better tonight. He will be the best player in the CBA when it’s said and done. Now he has to focus on the life in China. Good night!” HoopsWorld

Stephon Marbury, JR Smith, Lockout, China 

Zhao Bing, the team’s general manager, issued a stern warning to Smith on Weibo and got a quick response back from Smith: “My main goal is to get healthy! If you can’t understand that then maybe you should pick another profession!” The club was exasperated. A document to terminate the contract was in preparation. Although the contract is guaranteed, if Smith broke the rules more than twice, the team has the right to end the contract without any compensation. Zhao Bing told the press that actually Smith has broken the rules lots of times, and has been warned three times. According to my sources, the club was planning to fire Smith and look for another American player. SheridanHoops

Stephon Marbury, JR Smith, Lockout, China 

Marbury joined the CBA in 2010, and became the most popular player in short time. He loves China and has made many friends here. Smith learned that one of Marbury’s friends is very close to the Zhejiang club, so he asked for help. Marbury and his Chinese friend said yes to his request. At first, the club was tough and insisted it would terminate Smith. Then, they agreed to give him another chance, but he had to apologize for his behavior and promise to improve. SheridanHoops

Stephon Marbury, JR Smith, Lockout, China 

The club had another demand: Smith must live with the team. Before the issue, all the other Zhejiang players lived in standard rooms of a common hotel, but Smith persisted that he wanted to stay in a suite of a 5-star hotel. The club met his needs, paying the bill for about 900 dollars per night. Smith presented his regrets and accepted these requirements. He flew back to Zhejiang to join the team after the examination. He played Tuesday, getting 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. SheridanHoops

Stephon Marbury, JR Smith, Lockout, China 

In the talk with Smith lasting for more than an hour, Marbury told him that what kind of league the CBA is, and what he should do to succeed here: “You have to adapt yourself to the new environment and culture, at least to your team. You cannot expect to continue the lifestyle of the NBA, because it’s not the NBA.” “You’d better eat and live with the team. In the CBA, it’s impossible for the whole team to stay in a 5-star hotel. This is the reality. If you want to win, to be friends with your teammates, you must respect them, and get their respect in return, although you speak a different language.” SheridanHoops

Stephon Marbury, JR Smith, Lockout, China 

The 34-year-old from Coney Island, New York, is a long way from his home, his family and the strife-riddled NBA, but he says he couldn't be happier being where he is right now - in the nation's capital. "I've been here (Beijing) since October 6 and I love it, I love it ... I love everything about China," Marbury said during last week's launch of the impending Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) season. "It's been a great experience coming here to China and now Beijing. It's something I needed for my life and for my basketball," said the two-time all-star point guard who left the NBA to join the Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons in 2010, before moving to the Foshan Dralions, and now the Ducks. China Daily

Stephon Marbury, Lockout, China 

As with most foreigners, Marbury originally struggled with the language, but believes he is getting a grasp of it now. "It's coming along, it's coming along. I'm getting the tones, I'm learning the tones that was probably the hardest part for me, but I'm getting it now and I can get around on my own," he said of his Mandarin. China Daily

Stephon Marbury, Lockout, China 

Stephon Marbury: My tweets are directed at MJ's words not him as a basketball player. The people that are fans of his game wake up. Become a fan of the life! Twitter

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan, Stephon Marbury 

Stephon Marbury: David Stern is pointing fingers now. I've never heard him speak the way he's speaking in all of my life. Tell 1 lie you have to tell another Twitter

Stephon Marbury, David Stern, Lockout