Stephon Marbury to coach Beijing Royal Fighters in Chinese Basketball Association

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Ben Weinrib
·Yahoo Sports Contributor
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Two-time NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury spent his last eight years playing in the Chinese Basketball Association, and he'll officially stick around now that his playing days are done.

On Monday, Marbury was named the head coach of the Beijing Royal Fighters — the team he spent his final season playing for.

Marbury officially retired last season but hasn’t spent any time coaching, and his deal is for three years. Last season, the Royal Fights — also known as the Fly Dragons — finished last in the CBA with eight wins in 46 games. He’ll have the chance to coach former NBA point guard Pierre Jackson.

“Thank you for the opportunity. I will give everything I have on the sidelines just like I gave everything inside the Lines,” Marbury wrote on social media.

“The end is another start, I am back, are you with me?”

After playing his last NBA season with the Boston Celtics in 2009, Marbury had a career resurgence in China, where he spent the bulk of his time with the Beijing Ducks. He won three championships and was named Finals MVP in 2015. Marbury also added six CBA All-Star appearances, an All-Star Game MVP and a Foreign MVP.

Marbury embraced Chinese culture and became a permanent resident in 2016. He was the first foreign-born player in the CBA's first 21 years to be given citizenship, as the government requires applicants to have direct investment in the nation.

Marbury has long been involved in business ventures — dating back to the affordable Starbury shoe — and has more recently opened youth basketball camps in China.

Stephon Marbury headshot, professional basketball player, graphic element on gray
Stephon Marbury was named the head coach of the Beijing Royal Fighters in the Chinese Basketball Association. (AP)

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