Last to retire

The 1996 NBA Draft is widely considered to be one of the deepest ever, with one-third of the first-round picks later becoming All-Stars. Marbury is one of the best of the 1996 class - and the last one to retire.

The draft class produced three players who went on to win NBA MVP awards (Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash), seven other drafted players who became All-Stars and one undrafted All-Star (Ben Wallace).

Marbury spent 13 years in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and Boston Celtics. He averaged 19.3 points and 7.6 assists per game, earning two All-Star selections.

Speaking of his NBA career, Marbury believed it was a great preparation.

"It was a stepping stone," he said. "The NBA was great preparation for me to do something some place else.

"All of the knowledge, all that I gained, all that I was able to do to learn from playing in the NBA allowed me to come some place else and to inject that and give that type of energy to a culture of basketball that needed that.

"Chinese basketball needed that type of view to be able to understand and see exactly how things happened with someone who was committed to the basketball community here.

"My mom always said, 'It's always good, Stephon, to go where you are loved. If they love you, that is where you should be at.'

"How could I not go where I am loved? China played a different kind of part in my life. I feel like I am indebted and obligated."

shifutian@chinadaily.com.cn