Stephon Marbury

Sport: Basketball

Stephon Marbury won over basketball fans across China, when the 35-year-old Beijing Ducks guard led the team to its first CBA (China Basketball Association) championship in the 2011-2012 season.

A far cry from his bad boy image at home, Marbury has been a big brother figure for the young Beijing Ducks since his arrival in the 2009-2010 season. He wooed fans by embracing Chinese culture and his "love is love" mantra soon became the catchphrase on the lips of his supporters.

He was voted MVP (Most Valuable Player) online by fans, though the league rules dictate the award can't go to a foreign player.

Marbury's success in China inspired other former NBA big names to land on the CBA, including seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady (playing for the Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles in the 2012-2013 season) and Gilbert Arenas (playing for the Shanghai Sharks in the 2012-2013 season).