2012-2013年赛季CBA将拉开序幕

Along with the rising talents from the host nation, the CBA will feature 28 former NBA players a new record and the headliners among those 28 certainly need no introduction to basketball fans.

All across China people will be lining up this year to see the likes of Tracy McGrady, Stephon Marbury and Gilbert Arenas up close.

Stephon Marbury’s Beijing Ducks are the defending champs and will open the season against Gilbert Arenas and the Shanghai Sharks. Nicknamed "Agent Zero", Arenas was a three-time All Star in the NBA.

The most highly anticipated debut however, will belong to seven-time All Star Tracy McGrady of the Qiangdao Eagles. Basketball fans in Shandong literally rioted over T-Mac’s lack of playing time in a pre-season game in Shandong this week.

The veteran of the bunch is Marbury as he has settled in well here in China, heading into his fourth year in the CBA as an established superstar.

As far as the title favourites go, the Guangdong Southern Tigers, Xinjiang Flying Tigers and Beijing Ducks are the pick of the litter among most analysts here in China. Seven-time CBA champions Guangdong have been bolstered by the return of power forward Yi Jianlian...and have added former NBA big-man Ike Diogu.

The Xinjiang Flying Tigers will have Mengke Bateer back in the fold as new coach Cui Wanjun takes the reigns.

And with Marbury leading the way alongside fellow import Randolph Morris and CBA All-Star Game MVP Li Gen, the reigning champion Beijing Ducks will cetainly be in the mix again.