Stephon Marbury reacts before the draw ceremony of 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 16, 2019. (MAO SIQIAN / XINHUA)

Beijing-based retired basketball star Stephon Marbury is arranging an urgent shipment of surgical masks from China to New York to fight the coronavirus, he said on social media on Sunday.

Marbury, who was born on New York’s Coney Island, said he wanted to help his home city solve its reported shortage of masks.

“I’m helping source mask for the Brooklyn Borough President. He’s not able to be here so he asked me to help,” Marbury said on Twitter.

I’m helping source mask for the Brooklyn Borough President. He’s not able to be here so he asked me to help

Stephon Marbury

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“I’m from Brooklyn and my family lost loved ones due to the virus. It’s a sad time so I’m trying to help another BROOKLYNITE help people.”

Marbury told the New York Post that he had arranged with a mask supplier in China to sell New York 10 million masks at a cost price of US$2.75 each.

Reuters has documented shortages of vital protective equipment in hospitals in hard-hit New York, where healthcare workers are hiding supplies such as facemasks from colleagues in other departments.

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Brooklyn Borough president Eric Adams thanked Marbury for the “greatest assist” of his life.

“You are a true friend to this city,” Adams tweeted.

Beijing Royal Fighters' coach Stephon Marbury instructs his team during a China Basketball Association regular season match against Beijing Ducks in Beijing Nov 20, 2019. (PHOTO / XINHUA)