Ex-NBA star Stephon Marbury to star in Chinese biopic
In this Nov. 18, 2014, photo, US basketball player Stephon Marbury speaks during an interview in the lobby of his apartment building in Beijing. After a tumultuous career in the NBA, Marbury says he’s found a new peace in China, thriving on the court with the Beijing Ducks and mentoring young Chinese teammates. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Former NBA point guard Stephon Marbury has become a cultural icon in China since moving to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) in 2010, and he’s parlaying his celebrity status into a starring role in the big screen.
The biopic “My Other Home” will center around the life of the 39-year-old Brooklyn native and will be directed by Larry Yang. It will be co-produced and co-financed by SK Global and China’s Hairun Pictures, according to a report from the entertainment news portal The Wrap.
“This is a terrific story, with appeal to both Chinese and Western audiences, about a Westerner who re-defined himself in China, and how China in turn embraced him,” SK Global President John Pettoni was quoted as saying in the report.
“Ultimately, Marbury’s story is very inspirational, about second chances and perseverance through adversity. We are very pleased to be working with our friends at Hariun. Moreover, we are thrilled to be in Larry’s imaginative and capable hands as he guides this terrific production,” he added.
To prepare for the role, the two-time NBA All-Star reportedly took acting courses in Los Angeles and New York City for two months.
“It is time-consuming—12 hours a day—you’ve got to keep in mind the lines and wait around,” he was quoted as saying in the report.
Before dazzling the Chinese audience with his savvy ball-handling, Marbury spent 13 years with five teams in the NBA—the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics. His reputation as one of the best street ballers to ever come out of New York has also garnered him the nickname Starbury.
Marbury’s career in China, however, has arguably surpassed his achievements in the US after leading the Beijing Ducks to three CBA titles in 2012, 2014 and 2015.
Apart from a statue of his likeness in Beijing, Marbury has also been honored with a musical about his life, his own museum and a Chinese green card.
Meanwhile, the movie is tentatively set to be released during the upcoming CBA season, which runs from November to February.
Marbury’s close friends and fellow retired NBA point guards, Allen Iverson and Baron Davis, will reportedly make a cameo role in the film. Khristian Ibarrola
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