Big news surrounding the future of ex-NBA star Stephon Marbury during the past months after his struggles with the New York Knicks. Yesterday, it was publicly announced that he will play in the pro basketball league in China with Shanxi. Marbury is expected to debut next week on January 27th against Qingdao.

The salary of Marbury has not been disclosed by the president of the club, however they did note that:

Marbury’s salary is not an astronomical figure because by coming here he also hopes to open up the Chinese market and sell his shoes,” Wang said, referring to the guard’s line of Starbury basketball shoes and apparel.

Marbury I’m sure will have lots of fans has he was a well known great NBA player back years ago before other outside issues were in effect. His shoe brand Starbury I’m sure will pick up and sell a lot in China due to the volume of fans that the professional league brings in each year.

About the language.. hmm I’m not sure.

China Mens National Team finished second place after losing in the final against IRAN in the 2009 FIBA Asia Championships.

1. IRAN
2. CHINA
3. JORDAN

China Women’s National Team qualified for the 2010 World Championships by winning the 2009 FIBA Asia Championships. China captured gold with win over Korea and Japan received the Bronze medal.

The playoffs of the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) will start April 1st. The top eight teams of the regular season participate. Below are the eight teams fighting for the title.

• Guandong
• Xinjiang
• Jiangsu
• Shaanxi
• DongGuan
• Fujian
• Zhejiang G.
• Shandong

The first round of the playoffs will have a format of best of five in a 1-2-2 format. The schedule and matchups are below.

Game 1

• 2009-04-01 19:30 Guangdong VS Shandong
• 2009-04-01 19:30 Xinjiang VS Zhejiang Guangsha
• 2009-04-01 19:30 Shaanxi VS Dongguan
• 2009-04-01 19:30 Jiangsu VS Fujian

Game 2

• 2009-04-03 19:30 Fujian VS Jiangsu
• 2009-04-03 19:30 Dongguan VS Shaanxi
• 2009-04-03 19:30 Zhejiang Guangsha VS Xinjiang
• 2009-04-03 19:30 Shandong VS Guangdong

Game 3

• 2009-04-05 19:30 Fujian VS Jiangsu
• 2009-04-05 19:30 Dongguan VS Shaanxi
• 2009-04-05 19:30 Zhejiang Guangsha VS Xinjiang
• 2009-04-05 19:30 Shandong VS Guangdong

Game 4 (If necessary)

• 2009-04-08 19:30 Jiangsu VS Fujian
• 2009-04-08 19:30 Shaanxi VS Dongguan
• 2009-04-08 19:30 Xinjiang VS Zhejiang Guangsha
• 2009-04-08 19:30 Guangdong VS Shandong

Game 5 (If necessary)

• 2009-04-10 19:30 Guangdong VS Shandong
• 2009-04-10 19:30 Xinjiang VS Zhejiang Guangsha
• 2009-04-10 19:30 Shaanxi VS Dongguan
• 2009-04-10 19:30 Jiangsu VS Fujian

The 2008 Beijing Olympic was great while it lasted. Unforgettable games such as the USA vs Spain Olympic Gold Medal Game was a pleasure watching and one of the best. USA Womens Basketball kept things in check by winning yet another Gold Medal with Lisa Leslie on top is one of most game played in the Olympics by an American.

Wheelchair Basketball also had great moments in the Beijing Paralympic Basketball WheelChair Games. Australia Mens National Wheelchair Basketball team won gold over Canada who were quite favorite. On the womens side the USA Womens National Wheelchair Basketball team won its 2nd consecutive Paralympic Gold Medal over Germany!

Good Bye Beijing Basketball!

This is not the end however, there is lots of basketball in China that we will cover ALWAYS!

Australia Wins Paralympic Gold Medal after defeating Canada 72-60.

Down by four points at halftime, Australia dominated on offense in the third and fourth quarters to pull ahead of Canada. Australia, the silver medalist from the Athens Games, padded its lead in the last minute of play by hitting five free throws and a layup. Center Troy Sachs was the high scorer for the Australian team with 19 points. Teammates Justin Eveson and Shaun Norris combined for 33 points, and center Brad Ness had a game-high eight assists. Canada, the defending champion, could not match Australia’s scoring pace in the last quarter and missed several shots. Forward Patrick Anderson was the game’s high scorer with 22 points. Anderson and center Joey Johnson grabbed the most rebounds of the game (12 each), which ended with Canada’s first loss of the Beijing 2008 tournament.

Final Standings

1. Australia
2. Canada
3. Great Britain
4. USA
5. Germany

This is the second time in a row that the USA Womens Wheelchair Basketball Team has won a Gold Medal at the Olympics. After so much pressure to repeat they were able to do so with great effort over Germany 50-38.

Final Standings

1. USA (7-0)
2. Germany (5-2)
3. Australia (4-3)
4. Japan (5-2)
5. Canada (5-2)
6. Netherlands (3-4)
7. China (2-5)
8. Great Britain (1-6)
9. Mexico (1-4)
10. Brazil (0-5)

USA Mens Basketball Team proved that they were going to win a gold medal with the performance that displayed against a great Spain Mens Basketball Team. All of the NBA superstars stepped up their game to another level and made plays down the stretch. Don’t disregard Spain either because top NBA names and rookies for 2009 showed their stuff in the Final Show Down in the 2008 Olympics.

Top Players USA

• Unsung Hero – Dwyane Wade
• All Around MVP – Lebron James
• Best Inside – Chris Bosh
• Top Point Guard – Chris Paul
• Sacrifice – Carmelo Anthony

Top Players Spain

• Spain’s Most Valuable – Pau Gasol
• Best Youth – Ricky Rubio
• Unstoppable – Rudy Fernandez
• Strength Down The Stretch – Juan Carlos Narvarro
• Biggest Disappointment – Jose Calderon

USA Womens Basketball Team defeated Australia to go undefeated in the Beijing Olympics by. The well anticipated game of the USA vs Australia was expected but not as easy as the USA finally defeated the Opals 92-65. Australia started the game strong but the overwhelming defense and offense of the USA helped put them over top of Australia. Lisa Leslie went on to win her fourth Gold Medal as an Olympian.

“I’m just so overwhelmed right now,” she said. “It’s really hard to put into words what we’ve been able to do in one month.

Notes: USA Womens Basketball Team have now won 33 games in a row during the Olympics since winning in 2000.

Top scorers:

USA: Lawson (15), Leslie (14), Fowles (13), Parker (14)

Australia: Snell (15), Jackson (20)

Russia defeated China for the Bronze: 94-81