Marbury's MVP a step forward for CBA
- By Mitchell Blatt
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E-mail China.org.cn, March 26, 2015
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Stephon Marbury won his third championship in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Beijing Ducks and was awarded the 2015 CBA Finals MVP. |
Stephon Marbury winning the Finals MVP award in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) 2015 finals is a sign of progress for China and the CBA. Foreigners have competed in the CBA and helped raise the profile of the league in China for years, and now they are starting to be recognized for this contribution with official awards. It's a sign that China is becoming more open and accepting of foreigners as an ordinary part of daily life.
This is the second time a foreign player has won the CBA finals MVP award. Last year, the honor went to Marbury's teammate, Randolph Morris, and it was the third year that foreign players were eligible for the prize. But Marbury's win is particularly special because he has become a fan favorite in China after a controversial career in the NBA. There's a statue of him in Beijing, and he is often seen on the subway there interacting with fans.
Since foreigners like Marbury play on the same court and work together with their Chinese teammates for the same goal, they should have the same opportunity to win awards. The exclusion of foreign players from consideration for the MVP award prior to the 2012-13 season placed an unnecessary divide between foreigners and Chinese players.
Foreigners are often viewed with distinction in China, and it is true that being a foreigner comes with some perks. Kayne West was made to feel like a celebrity when his mother taught English in China for one year, and many foreigners today like the friendly interest that Chinese people show toward them. Other foreigners, however, are put off by the photographs that some Chinese try to take with them or the hassles they get from vendors in tourist areas. It can be a matter of personal preference. But many foreigners who live in China for a long time begin to appreciate Chinese culture and start studying the language, trying new foods and helping the country's economy through their jobs.
Since he joined the league in 2010, Stephon Marbury has helped the Beijing Ducks win three of the past four CBA titles. In 2011-12, when he won his first CBA title, fans on Sina Weibo voted Marbury the finals MVP, but the official award went to Li Xuelin, who averaged 11.0 points per game, 3.4 assists, and 4.6 rebounds in the championship round. Marbury bested him in everything but rebounds, scoring 33.4 points per game with 6.2 assists and 4.0 rebounds.
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