Stephon Marbury drives to the basket during an NBA playoff series game on April 28, 2009. (Photo : REUTERS)
Former NBA star Stephon Marbury emphasized that Beijing has become "a home away from home" in response to the fuzz caused by his application for a permanent residence permit in China.
The application shows his commitment to spending the rest of his life in China, which in turn triggered discussion among fans on social media.
If approved, Marbury will become the first overseas athlete to have been granted the permit.
The Beijing Public Security Bureau said in its blog that Marbury's application will be dealt with in the normal way.
The 6'2" Marbury joined the local league in 2010 after 13 years in the NBA playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and Boston Celtics.
He struggled while playing for the New York Knicks from 2004 to 2009 and was widely criticized for not leading the team to more victories.
Playing in China gave Marbury a clean slate.
Last month, Marbury led the Beijing Ducks to a third Chinese Basketball Association title in four years by beating the favored Liaoning Flying Leopards, when he was also named the Most Valuable Player in the final.
"I will still feel the same with the card or without the card. I won't feel much different, this is still home for me, this is in my heart," said the 38-year-old U.S. citizen.
Marbury added that he sought for a permanent residence permit to reciprocate the recognition he received in China and as an expression of respect for the people in the country.
Marbury eventually garnered more than 3.7 million followers on his blog and is set shoot a movie about his experiences as a New Yorker in Beijing.
The New Yorker expressed his fondness for China by tattooing Chinese characters that spell the phrase "Beijing wang chao," meaning "Beijing dynasty," on his chest, and had his name in Chinese tattooed on his left forearm.
