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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/11917423p-12804305c.html
Rookie's time might have arrived
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, January 2, 2005
First-round draft choice Kevin Martin made his first significant contribution of the season in the Kings’ 109-102 victory over the host Utah Jazz on Friday night. Martin had season highs of 19 minutes and six points.
Kings sixth man Bobby Jackson was nowhere to be found in Salt Lake City during Friday night's 109-102 victory over the Utah Jazz.
However, first-round draft choice Kevin Martin said he thought about the way Jackson - who did not travel with the team and is expected to have surgery this week on the torn ligament in his left wrist - does his job.
"I do let the game come to me, and that can be a bad thing or a good thing," said Martin, who made his first legitimate contribution of the season in the Kings' win. "But I thought about the way Bobby gets himself going when he gets into the game and brings that spark. I've always been a scorer. And I think early on I was feeling out the players and didn't want to step on anybody's toes."
But the Kings didn't make Martin the 26th pick of the first round for him to be tentative. The 6-foot-7 guard was the nation's No. 2 scorer in Division I, averaging 24.9 points at Western Carolina, because he attacked offensively and used his athleticism, size and ability to score from the perimeter as well as drive and draw fouls.
Jackson's injury has left a void in Sacramento's guard rotation, opening the way for Martin and free agent Maurice Evans to display their talents.
They'll likely play tonight when the Kings (18-9) host the San Antonio Spurs (25-6).
Kings coach Rick Adelman said Martin, who turns 22 on Feb. 1 and made himself eligible for the NBA draft as a junior, has been playing well in practice.
"The thing I liked about Kevin (against the Jazz) was that he was aggressive," Adelman said of Martin, who had played a total of 36 minutes in 10 games before receiving 19 minutes Friday night.
"He has had a tendency to lay back, but he's long and quick and gets some things done at both ends of the floor," Adelman said. "Both Kevin and Maurice are good defenders."
Peja Stojakovic said he wasn't surprised by Martin's performance against Utah.
"It's a matter of how long it's going to take him to feel comfortable in games," Stojakovic said of Martin, who scored six points. "He played really well.
"He's a good player. He's just inexperienced, and once he gets some more time on the floor, he's going to be able to help us."
Martin has been patient while waiting his turn to play, but he's not always willing to let the game come to him.
"I'm aggressive in practice," he said. "You can ask anybody. I look for my shot. But this is all part of the learning curve. I'm trying to move to the next level, though, and leave that learning curve behind. I know I'll always be learning, but I know coach has confidence in me, and he's told me to be ready.
"After Bobby got hurt, coach told me that again, and I've been doing a lot of work after practice."
Martin said he was motivated Friday night at halftime, when he heard captain Chris Webber heatedly implore his team to be aggressive.
"He did have the fire going," Martin said. "I always need that fire because I'm kind of laid-back, and he just said we can't let teams push us around. I know he got me juiced up, and by the way the team came out and played in the third quarter, I think everybody else took it positively."
Happy New Year - The Kings sat on their plane at the Salt Lake City International Airport on New Year's Eve as mechanical problems were fixed. The team arrived in Sacramento at about 11:15 p.m. and at the practice facility at Arco Arena, where their cars were, about 11:40 p.m.
Rookie's time might have arrived
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, January 2, 2005
First-round draft choice Kevin Martin made his first significant contribution of the season in the Kings’ 109-102 victory over the host Utah Jazz on Friday night. Martin had season highs of 19 minutes and six points.
Kings sixth man Bobby Jackson was nowhere to be found in Salt Lake City during Friday night's 109-102 victory over the Utah Jazz.
However, first-round draft choice Kevin Martin said he thought about the way Jackson - who did not travel with the team and is expected to have surgery this week on the torn ligament in his left wrist - does his job.
"I do let the game come to me, and that can be a bad thing or a good thing," said Martin, who made his first legitimate contribution of the season in the Kings' win. "But I thought about the way Bobby gets himself going when he gets into the game and brings that spark. I've always been a scorer. And I think early on I was feeling out the players and didn't want to step on anybody's toes."
But the Kings didn't make Martin the 26th pick of the first round for him to be tentative. The 6-foot-7 guard was the nation's No. 2 scorer in Division I, averaging 24.9 points at Western Carolina, because he attacked offensively and used his athleticism, size and ability to score from the perimeter as well as drive and draw fouls.
Jackson's injury has left a void in Sacramento's guard rotation, opening the way for Martin and free agent Maurice Evans to display their talents.
They'll likely play tonight when the Kings (18-9) host the San Antonio Spurs (25-6).
Kings coach Rick Adelman said Martin, who turns 22 on Feb. 1 and made himself eligible for the NBA draft as a junior, has been playing well in practice.
"The thing I liked about Kevin (against the Jazz) was that he was aggressive," Adelman said of Martin, who had played a total of 36 minutes in 10 games before receiving 19 minutes Friday night.
"He has had a tendency to lay back, but he's long and quick and gets some things done at both ends of the floor," Adelman said. "Both Kevin and Maurice are good defenders."
Peja Stojakovic said he wasn't surprised by Martin's performance against Utah.
"It's a matter of how long it's going to take him to feel comfortable in games," Stojakovic said of Martin, who scored six points. "He played really well.
"He's a good player. He's just inexperienced, and once he gets some more time on the floor, he's going to be able to help us."
Martin has been patient while waiting his turn to play, but he's not always willing to let the game come to him.
"I'm aggressive in practice," he said. "You can ask anybody. I look for my shot. But this is all part of the learning curve. I'm trying to move to the next level, though, and leave that learning curve behind. I know I'll always be learning, but I know coach has confidence in me, and he's told me to be ready.
"After Bobby got hurt, coach told me that again, and I've been doing a lot of work after practice."
Martin said he was motivated Friday night at halftime, when he heard captain Chris Webber heatedly implore his team to be aggressive.
"He did have the fire going," Martin said. "I always need that fire because I'm kind of laid-back, and he just said we can't let teams push us around. I know he got me juiced up, and by the way the team came out and played in the third quarter, I think everybody else took it positively."
Happy New Year - The Kings sat on their plane at the Salt Lake City International Airport on New Year's Eve as mechanical problems were fixed. The team arrived in Sacramento at about 11:15 p.m. and at the practice facility at Arco Arena, where their cars were, about 11:40 p.m.
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