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Patient Martin makes most of chance to play
By SAM BLACKBURN
Sports Writer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Kevin Martin didn't want to be a starter at the expense of a teammate's injury.
But in the NBA, when you're 22 and desperately needing to prove something, you take an opportunity however it comes.
A Zanesville native in his second year with the Sacramento Kings, Martin has started the past three games in place of Bonzi Wells, who was lost Dec. 19 to a groin injury. In nine games prior to his injury, the 6-7, 185-pound Martin didn't play more than 4:29.
In the five games since, his time has increased considerably (38.3), and in no small coincidence, so has his production. He produced career highs in points (22) and rebounds (7) in Friday night's 116-112 win over the Boston Celtics, getting an uncontested dunk with :26.3 seconds left that ended Boston's final rally.
Since arriving at Sacramento last season, Kings coaches - namely head coach Rick Adelman - have questioned his consistency, lamenting the fact that as a bench player, he would often back up a productive game with a less-than-inspiring one.
But the numbers suggest something different. In games Martin has played at least 20 minutes, only once has he scored less than 10 points - a four-point effort in 20:13 against Charlotte on Nov. 29.
And in four games since becoming the starter, he's scored 11, 10, 20 and 22 points, respectively. The one instance he didn't - the game Wells was injured - he played 41 minutes off the bench and scored a then career-high 19 points in an overtime loss at Charlotte.
That's making the most of an opportunity.
"The last thing you want to see is one of your teammates get hurt, especially a guy like Bonzi because he was playing so well for us," Martin said. "Now that I'm the starter, I have to do everything I can to help make up for that. I have to do whatever I can to help this team win. I know I can play."
Interestingly enough, the two's numbers as starters are strikingly similar. In 36.4 minutes per game, Wells averaged 15.1 points and 7.6 rebounds and was shooting 47.7 percent from the field. In the five games Martin has played extensively since Wells was injured, he's averaging 16.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and shooting at a 51.9 percent clip in 38.3 minutes.
Certainly comparable, if not better. But in order for Martin to make a case for extended minutes when Wells returns in a few weeks, he'll need to show he can produce those kind of numbers for more than a week.
"Kevin's not as good as Bonzi right now," said David Thorpe, Kevin's Florida-based personal coach of nearly five years. "When Bonzi gets back, he has to play, because he's probably their MVP at this point. But you can also make a case for Kevin, in that when he gets the minutes, he's proven he can put up the numbers. I have no doubt that, if he gets 30-plus minutes a night, he can average 15 points per game right now. That's the kind of talent he has. When he plays well, he can really help the team win."
And despite his personal desires, getting the team out of the gutter in the Pacific Division is precisely on what Martin is focused.
"I just want to go out there and show them that I can play," Martin said. "In this league, (an opportunity) is all that anybody needs. Once you get the chance, you have to make the most of it. That's what I'm trying to do."
Team goals aside, there is something else Martin will be playing for this season - another year on his contract. He signed a guaranteed three-year, $2.8 million deal as a rookie that included a club option for a fourth year. And while Martin hasn't commented on the matter publicly, Thorpe didn't hesitate in saying his client is in the midst of a critical juncture of his career.
"That's a $1.9 million option that they can pick up as early as this summer," Thorpe said. "Right now, he's trying to prove he's worthy of that year. And the thing about the NBA, when your fourth-year option is exercised, it tells everyone around the league that you can play in the NBA. That's why it's so important for him to take advantage of the time he's getting right now."
But in the midst of all of it, Martin remains the same team guy he was in his days at Zanesville High School under Scott Aronhalt, where he was 6-5, 140 pounds and plenty happy to just be one of the guys, even if he did score 22 points per game and make All-Ohio as a senior.
"Us getting back on track is the most important thing right now," Martin said. "I can't worry about anything else."
Writer info: sblackburn@nncogannett.com (740) 450-6723
Patient Martin makes most of chance to play
By SAM BLACKBURN
Sports Writer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Kevin Martin didn't want to be a starter at the expense of a teammate's injury.
But in the NBA, when you're 22 and desperately needing to prove something, you take an opportunity however it comes.
A Zanesville native in his second year with the Sacramento Kings, Martin has started the past three games in place of Bonzi Wells, who was lost Dec. 19 to a groin injury. In nine games prior to his injury, the 6-7, 185-pound Martin didn't play more than 4:29.
In the five games since, his time has increased considerably (38.3), and in no small coincidence, so has his production. He produced career highs in points (22) and rebounds (7) in Friday night's 116-112 win over the Boston Celtics, getting an uncontested dunk with :26.3 seconds left that ended Boston's final rally.
Since arriving at Sacramento last season, Kings coaches - namely head coach Rick Adelman - have questioned his consistency, lamenting the fact that as a bench player, he would often back up a productive game with a less-than-inspiring one.
But the numbers suggest something different. In games Martin has played at least 20 minutes, only once has he scored less than 10 points - a four-point effort in 20:13 against Charlotte on Nov. 29.
And in four games since becoming the starter, he's scored 11, 10, 20 and 22 points, respectively. The one instance he didn't - the game Wells was injured - he played 41 minutes off the bench and scored a then career-high 19 points in an overtime loss at Charlotte.
That's making the most of an opportunity.
"The last thing you want to see is one of your teammates get hurt, especially a guy like Bonzi because he was playing so well for us," Martin said. "Now that I'm the starter, I have to do everything I can to help make up for that. I have to do whatever I can to help this team win. I know I can play."
Interestingly enough, the two's numbers as starters are strikingly similar. In 36.4 minutes per game, Wells averaged 15.1 points and 7.6 rebounds and was shooting 47.7 percent from the field. In the five games Martin has played extensively since Wells was injured, he's averaging 16.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and shooting at a 51.9 percent clip in 38.3 minutes.
Certainly comparable, if not better. But in order for Martin to make a case for extended minutes when Wells returns in a few weeks, he'll need to show he can produce those kind of numbers for more than a week.
"Kevin's not as good as Bonzi right now," said David Thorpe, Kevin's Florida-based personal coach of nearly five years. "When Bonzi gets back, he has to play, because he's probably their MVP at this point. But you can also make a case for Kevin, in that when he gets the minutes, he's proven he can put up the numbers. I have no doubt that, if he gets 30-plus minutes a night, he can average 15 points per game right now. That's the kind of talent he has. When he plays well, he can really help the team win."
And despite his personal desires, getting the team out of the gutter in the Pacific Division is precisely on what Martin is focused.
"I just want to go out there and show them that I can play," Martin said. "In this league, (an opportunity) is all that anybody needs. Once you get the chance, you have to make the most of it. That's what I'm trying to do."
Team goals aside, there is something else Martin will be playing for this season - another year on his contract. He signed a guaranteed three-year, $2.8 million deal as a rookie that included a club option for a fourth year. And while Martin hasn't commented on the matter publicly, Thorpe didn't hesitate in saying his client is in the midst of a critical juncture of his career.
"That's a $1.9 million option that they can pick up as early as this summer," Thorpe said. "Right now, he's trying to prove he's worthy of that year. And the thing about the NBA, when your fourth-year option is exercised, it tells everyone around the league that you can play in the NBA. That's why it's so important for him to take advantage of the time he's getting right now."
But in the midst of all of it, Martin remains the same team guy he was in his days at Zanesville High School under Scott Aronhalt, where he was 6-5, 140 pounds and plenty happy to just be one of the guys, even if he did score 22 points per game and make All-Ohio as a senior.
"Us getting back on track is the most important thing right now," Martin said. "I can't worry about anything else."
Writer info: sblackburn@nncogannett.com (740) 450-6723
