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Martin is a 'big man on court'
The Kings guard, two years out of college, is quickly raising his game.
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, January 1, 2006
Get the latest news in sacbee.com's Kings Alert newsletter.
They take Kevin Martin under their wing because he's not only something of a little brother, he looks like one, too.
Martin is the eager-to-learn, eager-to-please swingman for the Kings. He looks every bit his 22 years with the boyish expressions and "yes, sir" manners. And his game? Growing up fast, right before the Kings' eyes.
The 6-foot-7, second-year talent out of Western Carolina was eager to see what he could provide in extended minutes. He didn't want it to come at the expense of ever-steady Bonzi Wells, with his partial groin tear, but Martin has seized his chance to help infuse some zest into the Kings' season, which might be starting to right itself again.
On the surface, it doesn't make sense. The Kings lose three starters in Wells, Peja Stojakovic and Shareef Abdur-Rahim to injury, and peel off a two-game winning streak without them.
Martin shouldered his part of the load and vowed not to buckle. He has started the last two games for the Kings, and he's put up encouraging numbers in his four starts this season, averaging 15.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 37.5 minutes. He's shot 51 percent in those games and generally seems to be enjoying all of it.
He grins after throwing down an alley-oop dunk. He appears relieved with one of those "yeah, the work is paying off" expressions while looking over at Kings assistant coach Pete Carril when a three-pointer drops. And he was satisfied when he polished off the Boston Celtics 116-112 Friday night with a late dunk to give the Kings some shine after an otherwise dreadful December, which included a five-game losing streak and last-place residence in the Pacific Division.
"(Teammate Brad Miller) was teasing me how I like getting career highs," Martin said. "I'm just trying to inch my way."
He started to inch his way in Charlotte on Dec. 19. When Wells went down with his injury, Martin hustled in and produced a then-career high of 19 points, to go with eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in 41 minutes, though the Kings fell 106-103 in overtime.
He inched his way to a career-high 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals in 41 minutes in dumping the first-place Los Angeles Clippers 110-93 on Tuesday. Against Boston, he upped that career high with 22 points on 8-for-13 shooting, with seven rebounds, two assists and three steals in a game-high 46 minutes.
All this from a player who admitted he was overwhelmed and lost last season, trying to find his place. His place now is starting as long as Wells is out, which could be three weeks.
About the only area in which the kid erred Friday, judging by Rick Adelman's animated expressions, was late in the game when he held onto the ball on offense, and everyone zipped around him. It was the only time Martin wasn't doing something, wasn't looking to attack, shoot or pass.
Martin admitted that the game is still coming to him. His teammates will remind him that if his three-point shot is off, go to Plan B and attack the rim. Mike Bibby and Francisco García like to look for him with alley-oops, even off inbound plays.
"We tell him that if he's not hitting shots, to use his quickness," Kings forward Kenny Thomas said. "He's getting better and better."
Said Adelman: "He needs to keep taking advantage of his opportunity. One thing Kevin's really done in the last two games is rebound the ball really well, come back on the defensive board, and get the ball back for us."
Next up is the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday at Arco. Another career high?
Martin would prefer a third successive victory just the same. Still, Martin joked that he may have jinxed the career-high run by now.
"If I score 30 points, I'm probably never going to get that again," he said. "Next game, if I have 22 points and I'm shooting free throws, and we're up, I'll probably just make one of two."
The Kings guard, two years out of college, is quickly raising his game.
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, January 1, 2006
Get the latest news in sacbee.com's Kings Alert newsletter.
They take Kevin Martin under their wing because he's not only something of a little brother, he looks like one, too.
Martin is the eager-to-learn, eager-to-please swingman for the Kings. He looks every bit his 22 years with the boyish expressions and "yes, sir" manners. And his game? Growing up fast, right before the Kings' eyes.
The 6-foot-7, second-year talent out of Western Carolina was eager to see what he could provide in extended minutes. He didn't want it to come at the expense of ever-steady Bonzi Wells, with his partial groin tear, but Martin has seized his chance to help infuse some zest into the Kings' season, which might be starting to right itself again.
On the surface, it doesn't make sense. The Kings lose three starters in Wells, Peja Stojakovic and Shareef Abdur-Rahim to injury, and peel off a two-game winning streak without them.
Martin shouldered his part of the load and vowed not to buckle. He has started the last two games for the Kings, and he's put up encouraging numbers in his four starts this season, averaging 15.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 37.5 minutes. He's shot 51 percent in those games and generally seems to be enjoying all of it.
He grins after throwing down an alley-oop dunk. He appears relieved with one of those "yeah, the work is paying off" expressions while looking over at Kings assistant coach Pete Carril when a three-pointer drops. And he was satisfied when he polished off the Boston Celtics 116-112 Friday night with a late dunk to give the Kings some shine after an otherwise dreadful December, which included a five-game losing streak and last-place residence in the Pacific Division.
"(Teammate Brad Miller) was teasing me how I like getting career highs," Martin said. "I'm just trying to inch my way."
He started to inch his way in Charlotte on Dec. 19. When Wells went down with his injury, Martin hustled in and produced a then-career high of 19 points, to go with eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in 41 minutes, though the Kings fell 106-103 in overtime.
He inched his way to a career-high 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals in 41 minutes in dumping the first-place Los Angeles Clippers 110-93 on Tuesday. Against Boston, he upped that career high with 22 points on 8-for-13 shooting, with seven rebounds, two assists and three steals in a game-high 46 minutes.
All this from a player who admitted he was overwhelmed and lost last season, trying to find his place. His place now is starting as long as Wells is out, which could be three weeks.
About the only area in which the kid erred Friday, judging by Rick Adelman's animated expressions, was late in the game when he held onto the ball on offense, and everyone zipped around him. It was the only time Martin wasn't doing something, wasn't looking to attack, shoot or pass.
Martin admitted that the game is still coming to him. His teammates will remind him that if his three-point shot is off, go to Plan B and attack the rim. Mike Bibby and Francisco García like to look for him with alley-oops, even off inbound plays.
"We tell him that if he's not hitting shots, to use his quickness," Kings forward Kenny Thomas said. "He's getting better and better."
Said Adelman: "He needs to keep taking advantage of his opportunity. One thing Kevin's really done in the last two games is rebound the ball really well, come back on the defensive board, and get the ball back for us."
Next up is the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday at Arco. Another career high?
Martin would prefer a third successive victory just the same. Still, Martin joked that he may have jinxed the career-high run by now.
"If I score 30 points, I'm probably never going to get that again," he said. "Next game, if I have 22 points and I'm shooting free throws, and we're up, I'll probably just make one of two."
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