Three years ago, American player Marcus Williams brought a franchise-best third place to the Shanxi team which was owned by Wang Xingjiang at the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league.
Williams has reunited with Wang in a lower league, the National Basketball League (NBL), to fight for another common goal -- take Zhengzhou Dayun to the top flight CBA.
"He is really a good friend, and I really like him," Williams talked about his former and current boss, Wang, nicknamed "Chinese Cuban" for his frenzy for basketball.
"I missed him when he sold the team two years ago. I did not want to play for any other team in NBL but his team, it's been great to see him," said Marcus.
On November 17, 2013, Wang left CBA's Shanxi after eight years in charge. One year later, Williams left China, went home and enjoyed being a father to his second baby.
He got a contract from the Denver Nuggets, but was waived off before the 2014-2015 season.
Jobless for a season, Williams came back to China this month, joining his old boss Wang on his invitation.
"I never feel any pity for that. I've played in China for five years, and spent a lot of time away from my family. It's good to stay at home and spend the time with my family, especially with the new baby."
However, taking some time off never means that Marcus is not prepared for his comeback to Chinese basketball.
"I worked out during the whole fall, just in case there is an opportunity that I want to take," he said. "I can't always stay still. I've been training very hard and I want to show my best self."
During his short stay in NBA, Marcus played 13 regular games for the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers. Now he already well adapted himself in China after his five years in the CBA and was particularly impressed with Chinese players' hard work and energy.
"NBA is NBA, with the best players from the world. The game is a lot faster, and more athletic. Chinese players can really shoot. In America, everyone likes to dunk and fast play, but shooting basketball is something that is very important."
"They (Chinese players) work really hard, and they are very athletic. The fans love the basketball here, that's very important," he said.
"Lyu Xiaoming, Duan Jiangpeng, Yi Li from Jiangsu, and Wang Zhizhi, of course, he is a very good player," Marcus said, referring to the Chinese players who most impress him. "I know that Liaoning has a couple of good players, and Beijing."
"There are good players in so many teams. It takes years for the development of basketball, making certain skills become their second nature. It doesn't happen overnight."
Marcus, along with Charles Gaines, led Shanxi to the third position in 2011-2012 CBA season, but both of them left before last season.
Back home, Marcus still paid attention to Gaines' play. "I was checking on him a lot. I didn't watch all teams, but always paid attention to his team," he said. "We are living in the same city of Houston back home. We talked about the season, and I know Beijing once again won the champion."
Not only as a good scorer, Marcus was also appreciated for his leading role in helping his teammates get better in CBA. Now, he once again takes this goal into his mind.
"Try to help the team and players get better. Boss Wang wants this team to play in CBA in the future, so I want to help him prepare for that," he said.
"Try to communicate with my teammates, create opportunities for them on the floor, try to win some games and have fun," he added.
