“The aim of signing Marbury is to pay back our fans and try to win more games in the rest of the season,” Shanxi boss Wang Xingjiang told ESPN.

Reports indicate Marbury is expected to help boost the team’s chances of making the playoffs. Currently, Shanxi sits 15th out of 17th in CBA league standings.

Shanxi made headlines last year when former NBA player Bonzi Wells joined the team, and two months later took a vacation and subsequently did not return to China.

— Zachary Franklin

Shanxi Zhongyu(山西中宇), the Taiyuan-based CBA club, told press on Jan.31 about their decision to release Bonzi Wells, the most notable foreign aid in the league, for not returning to the club. Mr.Wells left Shangxi for the US on Jan. 22 and was supposed to come back on 27, according to the Shanxi club, who is to play Jilin Northeast Tigers tonight on Feb.1.

The ex-NBA player joined the club on Dec.12, 2008. In his 50 days of staying, Bonzi played 14 games and was the 2nd leading scorer in the league with an average of 34.3 points, second only to Gabe Muoneke, a Yunnan Honghe forward with a PPG of 34.6 in 19 matches.

According to Asian Basket, Bonzi Wells has been replaced by Tim Pickett, who was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2004 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Hornets.

Related Reads:

• Xinhua: Bonzi Wells joins CBA with Shanxi Zhongyu
• Asia Basket: Bonzi Wells Not Coming Back to China!

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