Former AND1 endorser Stephon “Starbury” Marbury wins Chinese Basketball Association championship

[Streetball’s Finest  – 4.10.12] – Former AND1 endorser Stephon “Starbury” Marbury wins Chinese Basketball Association championship

Inks: FLASH aka g_sk1lls 
Images: Getty Images, China Daily, Johnfreeborn.com;  

Videos: c/o Youtube uploaders, I do not own those videos

Former NBA All-Star & And1 endorser and current import for the Beijing Ducks Stephon “Starbury” Marbury recently won the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) last March 30, 2012.  Having already established a huge following and rabid basketball fanbase, Marbury and his teammates won the best of seven series, 4-1, against the defending champions - Guangdong Hongyuan Southern Tigers.

During the title game, he registered 41 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists in leading the Ducks to their thrilling 124-121 Game 5 win.  Eventually, he averaged 33.4 points in that 5-game finals series, and was also the team’s emotional and spiritual leader, willing the team to their 1^st-ever CBA crown in franchise history (click HERE for the China Daily article).

[Author’s sidenote: I have been meaning to write a Stephon Marbury AND1 Baller Birthday blog feature two months ago (born Feb. 20, 1977) but my day job and other scheduling conflicts prevented me from doing so.  Luckily, his recent accomplishment gave me another opportunity to feature him in the And1 Ph blogsite.]

The CBA is the Chinese equivalent of our local PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) and is a professional basketball league established in the 1995 season.  Perennial powerhouse Guangdong Hongyuan, was led by former NBA Aaron Brooks as their import.

Unfortunately, while Marbury was able to put up MVP-like numbers, local league rules prevented him from taking home the MVP plum (since he is an import and not a local player).  The fans however, found a way for Marbury to hoist his very own MVP trophy via online polls (click HERE for related article).  Stephon has earned the respect, adulation and superstar status from the very appreciative Chinese basketball fanbase, and chants of “MVP” and “Marbury” can be consistently heard during his games.

Posted below some Youtube video highlights of Starbury’s games in the CBA.

I’ve also included some images and videos of vintage Marbury below, rocking And1 shoes during his brand endorsement days.  During his NBA career, he played with the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, and Boston Celtics, averaging 19.3 points per game over the course of a 13-year span.  The Coney Island-native is best known for his dazzling crossovers, quick first-step, pull-up jumpers and daredevil drives to the hoop.

And1 Finger Roll and Tai Chi Mid.

Silky Smooth Mids.

 

Starbury Mids and Quest Mids (and Tyronn Lue rocking the And1 Rise)

Quest Mids while playing for NY Knicks & Team USA in the 2004 Olympics

For more news about And1 both locally (Philippines) and internationally, check us out in Facebook (www.facebook.com/and1ph) and on Twitter (@and1ph).  Big thanks to the China Daily website for their own published articles which served as additional references for this blogpost.  And that’s the 411, And Juan!

And1 kicks immortalized in (toy) plastic – Part 2 of 2

[Shoe Session – 12.28.11] - And1 kicks immortalized in (toy) plastic – Part 2 of 2

Inks: FLASH aka g_sk1lls 
Images: Spawn.com (McFarlane toys – Basketball action figures), various sources

Mabuhay, And Juans!  We’re a few days removed from Christmas weekend and slowly easing into 2012 in a few more ticks but for now, I’m continuing the December 26 blog article (click HERE to peep it) that I’ve posted about And1 shoes being made into plastic form by McFarlane Toys. 

Continuing the McFarlane Sports Picks line which produces action figures of notable NBA players since 2002, And1 was still represented thru some brand endorsers such as Big Ben Wallace, Jason Williams, Kevin Garnett, and (for a very brief period) Vince Carter.

In MSP’s Series 7, Big Ben sported the highly recognizable And1 Chosen Mids with his “Fear the ‘Fro” look.  As a side note, And1 also sold bicep bands that Big Ben popularized during his championship run with the Detroit Pistons (2004, versus the LA Lakers in 5 games).

Also part of the same wave of MSP action figures was White Chocolate aka Jason Williams.  While he played for the Memphis Grizzlies, J-Will has been representing the And1 brand hard, and while the shoe on his action figure isn’t exactly an And1 silhouette (the figure was basically just a repaint of the Mike Bibby – SAC Kings action figure), he deserves a spot in this blog post.  After all, who doesn’t love (White) Chocolate?  *winks*

Worth mentioning also in series 7 was The Kid from ‘Sota aka KG in a tomahawk dunk pose (rocking the brand with the 3 stripes?) and Vinsanity aka VC15 in his winning form in the 2000 NBA All Star Game dunk contest.  To be politically correct, VC should have been wearing a white/red And1 Taichi Mid shoe instead of a pair with the swoosh, but he has since signed with them at time of production hence no And1 love for this figure.

Stephon Marbury (after being traded to the NY Knicks) had a re-issued figure for MSP Series 8, still in the Quest Mids but in NYK duds.  I’ve already posted some images of the Quest Mids in Part 1 of this blog feature, so the image below is just the action figure of Starbury in Away NYK colors.

Fast forward to Series 12, where Big Ben Wallace (signed by the Chicago Bulls as a free agent) in a re-issued and re-colored version of his Series 7 action figure.  Wearing an Away CHI jersey, Big Ben still appears to be wearing the same And1 Chosen Mid pair but now with red highlights.

While not exactly an And1 endorser, Mike Conley (Memphis Grizzlies) gets mentioned in this blog for his appearance in the MSP Series 15 line-up.  Since basically he’s a repaint of the Stephon Marbury action figure, the Conley action figure sports Quest Mids (dominant white, MEM color highlights).

Finally, the Latrell Sprewell action figure was re-issued in his black Minnesota Timberwolves jersey as a McFarlane Club Exclusive.  Interesting to note, the Spree action figure is no longer wearing the Spree Mids (now in Dadas) unlike the NYK version in Series 3.

So there you have it, And Juans.  Hopefully a new And1 pair gets to be featured in another action figure’s feet somewhere down the line via McFarlane Sports Picks.

Requests for future blog features, comments, and reactions are most welcome.  Feel free to email us at and1pinas@gmail.com and please also check out our Facebook fanpage (www.facebook.com/and1ph).  We’re also on Twitter (follow @and1ph) for news, features, and the latest updates about the And1 brand in the Philippines.  And that’s the 411, And Juan!

And1 kicks immortalized in (toy) plastic – Part 1 of 2

[Shoe Session – 12.26.11] - And1 kicks immortalized in (toy) plastic – Part 1 of 2

Inks: FLASH aka g_sk1lls 
Images: Spawn.com (McFarlane toys – Basketball action figures); various sources

Greetings, And Juans!  Merry Christmas to everyone and may you have had a meaningful celebration of the season.  As a Christmas treat for all you And1 fans out there, I’m posting below a blog article that I’ve been wanting to come out since early September.  Having asked my fellow And1 Ph administrator Luis A. aka L.A., I finally decided to post this write up about And1 shoes being made into plastic form courtesy of action figure company McFarlane Toys.

As most of you basketball fans know, McFarlane Toys produced action figures of popular NBA players since 2002 under the McFarlane Sports Picks (MSP) line.  It features lifelike renderings with minimal/limited articulation of selected NBA players, with accurate jersey and uniforms including the player’s distinct shoe for that particular NBA season.  That being said, popular basketball shoe producers such as And1 was able to have certain shoe models produced as part of the featured player’s action figure counterpart, and I have posted some of the action figure pictures below alongside the shoe model for your viewing pleasure.

First up, the inaugural year of McFarlane Sports Picks (Series 1) in 2002 featured erstwhile And1 brand endorser Kevin Garnett in the KG Select Mid.  I’ve also included a Youtube video (click HERE) of the And1 advertisement for the said shoe model.

 

During the 3^rd wave of MSP, another (former) And1 endorser was included in the line-up, then-Knick Latrell Sprewell.  Sporting his trademark cornrows, ball cocked back for a two-handed tomahawk jam, and wearing the And1 Spree Mid, this was one of my most favorite McFarlane basketball figures  (2^nd only to Gary Payton).

The following wave, former Pacer Jermaine O’neal was included in the Series 4 line-up.  While he was not an And1 endorser, it was just interesting to note that since he was basically a repaint of the same Kevin Garnett mold from Series 1, he was also wearing the And1 KG Select Mid but in IND colorway.

Series 5 of the McFarlane Sports Picks line featured two former And1 endorsers, Ben “Big Ben” Wallace of the Detroit Pistons and Coney Island native Stephon Marbury who was then playing for the Phoenix Suns. 

Former Defensive Player of the Year Big Ben Wallace rocked the Desire Mids...

...while former NBA All Star Stephon Marbury was seen using the Quest Mids.

That’s it for now.  Continuation of this article will be posted on December 28.  Stay tuned!