We haven’t had many basketball related posts here on EWC. There was my ill-fated attempt at following Jianlian Yi’s progress in the NBA, and then there was the time that Jackson decided to not only publically admit he was a T-wolves fan, but went so far to spend some energy venting about Kevin McHale. Although, I have to say, that post did produce a great moment in the comments section.
Fact is, basketball isn’t that interesting when you think about it. Particularly in Asia — even with the two-time KBL champs in my own backyard. However, that may have changed with the announcement that Starbury will be spending six full weeks playing in China’s CBL with the Shanxi Fenjiu (named for a local grain alcohol). The team is more commonly known as the Brave Dragons. Starbury is more commonly known as the crazy guy with a tattoo on his head that used to play in the NBA.
Since his arrival Starbury has learned how to say “Happy New Year,” and won the staunch support of his coach by…keeping his dinner order tastefully low-key (as opposed to one of these).
“People say this and that about him, but let me tell you, I had dinner with him last night and it was so simple, chicken fried rice. That’s it,” Brave Dragons coach Wu Qinglong said.
While he’s been a big hit off the court, Starbury’s performance on the court has left some experts wanting:
“His stamina isn’t up to it yet,” said 41-year-old season ticket holder Zhang Zhijun, an unemployed driver, sitting on the front row at Marbury’s second game with the Brave Dragons. “Right now he needs to turn up his game. He’s not even playing at his normal level.
Oh he will will Zhang. Just you wait. Like a lot of foreigners that work in Asia, Starbury’s final salary is TBD. The estimated value of the contract is anticipated to be around 100K, which the owner himself bragged to reporters is a very cheap price “very low amount.”
Starburry’s arrival is also very important in the realm of world economics. His signing marks the first good to be exported from The United States to China since a Circuit City in Klamath Falls, OR sold two units of this CD/Radio to a man in Shanghai in 1986.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Jackson // Feb 8, 2010 at 12:17 pm
This is a great post. I have a feeling Marbury never leaves Asia once he gets used to the lifestyle there. One question: is korea’s pro league as poor as taiwan’s? I’m fairly certain a decent high school team in the states could beat the pro teams here in a series. On a related note, there’s a Taiwanese kid playing for harvard right now that is scoring twenty plus a game and could probably beat a pro team here single handedly.
2 John Brooks // Feb 8, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Deadspin has some nice pictures of Marbury in the CBA.
Some believe Harvard’s Lin will be the first Asian-American drafted in the NBA. This video of Lin is sick. Harvard went nuts after beating William & Mary.
3 Shinsano // Feb 8, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Actually the KBL league is getting better. I say that from afar….like, as a guy who sometimes sees the league when the sports news highlights are on…but the players are bigger and look a little quicker. I can only assume they’re better.
4 Shinsano // Feb 8, 2010 at 5:57 pm
Actually Ha Seung-jin was drafted by the Blazers a few years ago. He stuck for a couple years but is now back here playing in the KBL. I assume he’s good. He’s about 7 ft. I believe.
5 DJ // Feb 9, 2010 at 4:44 am
What’s “basketball”?
6 Dan // Feb 9, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Starbury….i loved the fact that he came out with a 14 dollar shoe and wore it in NBA games. i got a pair of starburys at home.
Ha was pretty pathetic in his time in the NBA (almost an embarassment). Bang Sung-yoon (now on SK) made it as far as the NBDL. Choi Jin-soo played some D-1 ball at Maryland, but has since dropped out and is hoping for a shot in the KBL.
Jeremy Lin’s legit. He may play some weak Ivy league teams, but he’s done well against UCONN and G’town.
Aaron, check out a KBL game. It’s a lot of 3’s. At least go for the cheerleaders.
Leave a Comment