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!

Happy (belated) birthday, Latrell “Spree” Sprewell and Ben “Big Ben” Wallace!

[And1 Baller Birthday – 09.27.11] - Happy (belated) birthday, Latrell “Spree” Sprewell and Ben “Big Ben” Wallace!

Inks: FLASH aka g_sk1lls

Images: Various (NBA / GettyImages.com / various sources)

Former NBA player (1992-2005) Latrell Sprewell celebrated his birthday last September 8 (born 1970, 41 this year). He played for 3 NBA teams in his professional basketball career (Golden State, New York, and Minnesota).

Sneakerheads remember his stint with the NY Knicks most prominently due to his And1 kicks which matched his brash, energetic play and ultimately gave NBA-cred to the And1 brand back in the late 90's-early 2000's.

Among his most memorable And1 pairs include Finger Roll Mid, Mad Game Select Mid, Taichi Mid (various CWs), 2Chi Mid, and of course, the Spree Mid (which also came out in Lows.)

For those who no longer remember the player simply known as "Spree", his career highlights include 4 All-Star game selections, was All NBA 1st team in 1994, and also made it the All-NBA Defensive 2nd team the same year.

Spree's shots in And1 kicks below:

(And1 Finger Roll)

(Battling down love versus "The Glove" in And1 Spree Mid)

(And1 Mad Game Select Mid)

(And1 Taichi Mids)

Another September birthday boy is former four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year awardee, Ben Wallace (born September 10, 1974, now 37). Known for being one of the most feared shotblockers and rebounders for the Detroit squad that won the NBA title back in 2004, Big Ben repped And1 proudly in the No Pain, No Game training series as well as having his own signature pair, the And1 Chosen Mids.

Still currently playing for the NBA team Detroit Pistons (second stint), Big Ben also plied his wares for Washington Bullets/Wizards, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, and Cleveland Cavaliers. His most memorable And1 pairs include the Rekanize Mid, 2Chi Mid, and of course, the Chosen Mid.

Big Ben's shots in And1 kicks below:

(And1 Rekanize Mid)

(And1 2Chi Mid)

(And1 Chosen Mids)

It is interesting to note that both players played in the NBA finals while wearing And1 (Spree and the NY Knicks lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the 1999 lockout-shortened season, while Big Ben won against the heavily-favored Los Angeles Lakers in 2004).

Happy, happy belated birthday, And1 ballers!