A Chinese love affair

Stephon Marbury has connected with Chinese fans on a level that no other American basketball player has managed to do while living and playing in China.

He regularly posts updates to more than 300,000 Chinese fans on weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter. Ahead of his flight back to China on April 25, Marbury posted: "Good morning China! It feels like I've just left. I'm excited about my trip back to Beijing. I'm sure the Beijing people are still feeling the joy of winning the championship like myself."

Late last year, Marbury paid a hospital visit to Yuanyuan, a 5-year-old cancer patient and ardent basketball fan. He went at the behest of her father, who had contacted him via weibo. Marbury also writes a column for China Daily, in which he has covered a variety of subjects including family, cultural differences and, of course, basketball. Chinese fans have rewarded him with intense loyalty and an enthusiasm that has surprised him.