http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/32940.html
Marty Mac's World: Oh, Wells - Martin matures into a player
By Martin McNeal - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, October 3, 2006
It didn't matter to third-year shooting guard Kevin Martin whether Bonzi Wells re-signed with the Kings. It wasn't going to matter to Martin that Wells had led the Kings in scoring and rebounding during their first-round playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Not that Martin had any beef with Wells, who Monday signed a contract with the Houston Rockets. The 23-year-old Zanesville, Ohio, native merely had plans on that starting shooting guard spot.
"Yeah, it's mine," he said Monday afternoon of the starting two-guard gig. "That's the way I feel about it, and that was going to be my mentality even if Bonzi had come back."
That is a huge change of thinking from 2004 camp, his rookie NBA season.
"You can see how I'm sitting," said Martin, who was leaning back low, with his legs spread wide open in a chair.
The man looked as if he was waiting for a sandwich and a drink.
"My rookie year," he said, "I'd probably have been sitting straight up. Now, I'm a lot more relaxed and a lot more confident."
That increased confidence comes from experience. Martin has spent his two offseasons working extensively on his game. He spent last season working against Wells in practice, then made the most of 41 starts. Martin, who averaged 10.8 points on 48 percent field-goal shooting (36.9 percent from three-point range) in 26.5 minutes per game overall, was even better as a starter.
He averaged 13.7 points on 51.1 field-goal shooting (42.3 percent from three) and 84 percent from the free-throw line. Martin, who was not on the team's 2005 playoff roster, averaged 13.2 points and 32.8 minutes during the 2006 playoffs.
He scored a career-high 26 points and had a playoff career-high eight rebounds in a Game Two loss at San Antonio when Ron Artest was out because of a suspension.
However, the baby-faced assassin's confidence boost already was in full effect.
During a strong set of games while starting for Wells, Martin spoke about how well he believed things were flowing for him.
"You see how it's working now," Martin said. "That's how things were in college, and that's how it's going to be (in the NBA)."
It was an attitude and confidence Martin neither felt nor verbalized a year earlier. Yet, it's important to remember Martin came out of Western Carolina a year early. And he was the second-leading scorer in 2004 in NCAA Division I.
Martin expects to score in many different ways as well as rebound and defend.
With Artest, Francisco García, free-agent signee John Salmons and even rookie Quincy Douby, Martin figures to lead a group of young, athletic players capable of playing two positions and running the floor at breakneck pace.
Consider that only Mike Bibby and Brad Miller have been with the Kings longer than Martin, unless you add Corliss Williamson before being traded and after being reacquired.
Martin is starting his third season, and already he's a veteran.
About the writer: The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com
Marty Mac's World: Oh, Wells - Martin matures into a player
By Martin McNeal - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, October 3, 2006
It didn't matter to third-year shooting guard Kevin Martin whether Bonzi Wells re-signed with the Kings. It wasn't going to matter to Martin that Wells had led the Kings in scoring and rebounding during their first-round playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Not that Martin had any beef with Wells, who Monday signed a contract with the Houston Rockets. The 23-year-old Zanesville, Ohio, native merely had plans on that starting shooting guard spot.
"Yeah, it's mine," he said Monday afternoon of the starting two-guard gig. "That's the way I feel about it, and that was going to be my mentality even if Bonzi had come back."
That is a huge change of thinking from 2004 camp, his rookie NBA season.
"You can see how I'm sitting," said Martin, who was leaning back low, with his legs spread wide open in a chair.
The man looked as if he was waiting for a sandwich and a drink.
"My rookie year," he said, "I'd probably have been sitting straight up. Now, I'm a lot more relaxed and a lot more confident."
That increased confidence comes from experience. Martin has spent his two offseasons working extensively on his game. He spent last season working against Wells in practice, then made the most of 41 starts. Martin, who averaged 10.8 points on 48 percent field-goal shooting (36.9 percent from three-point range) in 26.5 minutes per game overall, was even better as a starter.
He averaged 13.7 points on 51.1 field-goal shooting (42.3 percent from three) and 84 percent from the free-throw line. Martin, who was not on the team's 2005 playoff roster, averaged 13.2 points and 32.8 minutes during the 2006 playoffs.
He scored a career-high 26 points and had a playoff career-high eight rebounds in a Game Two loss at San Antonio when Ron Artest was out because of a suspension.
However, the baby-faced assassin's confidence boost already was in full effect.
During a strong set of games while starting for Wells, Martin spoke about how well he believed things were flowing for him.
"You see how it's working now," Martin said. "That's how things were in college, and that's how it's going to be (in the NBA)."
It was an attitude and confidence Martin neither felt nor verbalized a year earlier. Yet, it's important to remember Martin came out of Western Carolina a year early. And he was the second-leading scorer in 2004 in NCAA Division I.
Martin expects to score in many different ways as well as rebound and defend.
With Artest, Francisco García, free-agent signee John Salmons and even rookie Quincy Douby, Martin figures to lead a group of young, athletic players capable of playing two positions and running the floor at breakneck pace.
Consider that only Mike Bibby and Brad Miller have been with the Kings longer than Martin, unless you add Corliss Williamson before being traded and after being reacquired.
Martin is starting his third season, and already he's a veteran.
About the writer: The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com
i'm excited!
