Stephen Curry leaves his mark on Asia

Stephen Curry took a selfie on Instagram with Japan's Under-19 national team.

STEPHEN CURRY, the NBA's  Most Valuable Player, is back from his five-day swing through Asia that included stops in Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, China and Singapore. 

The five nation, five-day trip was sponsored by Under Armor and the release of new shoe bearing Curry's name. It follows a similar swing that Lebron James did a month earlier. It's all part of the NBA's marketing strategy to tap into the huge Asian market.

Sponsors have paid close attention to basketball's growing popularity in the region. Nike and Adidas send their biggest NBA stars on promotional tours in Asia every summer. Dunkin' Donuts hired LeBron James of the Miami Heat and Mercedes-Benz signed Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers to promote their products in Asia; and Colin Currie, managing director of Adidas Group Greater China, says the company signed Charlotte's guard Jeremy Lin more for his Asian marketability than for his American appeal.

In Manila, the Golden State Warrior's point guard graciously took on  a seven-year old fan and let him do a cross-over and a basket.