Years after the intense CBA Finals between Beijing and Guangdong, emotions are still running high—especially among fans revisiting the historic rivalry through platforms like Bangla Cricket Live. A resurfaced video from the 2011–2012 Finals shows then-Guangdong head coach Li Chunjiang yelling at his players during a timeout: “If you’re going to foul, then foul hard. Don’t hold back. Be ruthless, the same to everyone.” The clip reignited memories of a fiercely contested series, prompting former Beijing star Stephon Marbury to respond on social media.
Marbury reposted the video with the caption, “This is what Finals treatment looks like.” His passion was clear. “We fought like warriors. In the end, the team that was better prepared and more focused won.” When a fan commented that Marbury had raised his leg during the game, implying dirty play, he fired back: “I’d do it again. People forget how dirty Guangdong played. They didn’t fight fair—they relied on fouls and cheap tricks. But we fought harder.”
That year, Beijing shocked the league by toppling the long-time powerhouse Guangdong to win their first-ever CBA championship. It marked a turning point for both teams. Though Guangdong bounced back the next season to win their eighth title, they never fully regained their dominance. The league began shifting toward a more competitive balance with multiple teams in the championship race.
In the six years that followed, both central figures of that epic rivalry took very different paths. Marbury went on to lead Beijing to three titles in four years, cementing his legacy as a CBA icon. Even though he was later forced to finish his career with cross-town rivals Beijing Royal Fighters, his influence on Chinese basketball remains undeniable. Coach Li Chunjiang, on the other hand, parted ways with Guangdong in 2013 and eventually took over Zhejiang Guangsha, leading them to the Finals after five years of rebuilding.
Despite the passage of time, the fire from that Finals series still burns bright among fans, with clips and debates regularly surfacing on forums and platforms like Bangla Cricket Live. Li Chunjiang’s infamous rant—“If he lifts his leg, flip him! Got it? Flip him and I’ll take the blame!”—has become part of CBA lore. That no-holds-barred intensity reflected the high stakes and deep emotions of the moment.
Marbury’s CBA journey has long since ended, but his fierce competitiveness, unmatched impact, and outspoken honesty continue to resonate. He remains a beloved figure, especially in Beijing, where he led a Cinderella run in his very first season with the team. Against all odds, he took an underestimated Beijing squad to the Finals and dethroned the reigning champions. That victory was not just a basketball win—it was a cultural shift.
For fans tracking CBA history and those following international sports developments on Bangla Cricket Live, these flashbacks serve as a powerful reminder. Sometimes, to bring down a dynasty, it takes more than just skill—it takes heart, grit, and the willingness to push boundaries. Love him or hate him, Marbury made sure no one could ignore him.