Thinner Than Skinnier
It’s a shame we’re saying goodbye to Kevin Martin. We have only got to experience him for 12 seasons and they went by like a lightning bolt. Martin debuted in 2004 after being selected in the first round by the Sacramento Kings and I remember it like yesterday (weird, I reckon) because of the momentum and the style he was bringing to a league that already had players like Iverson and Alston and Arenas who clearly put it at another level in terms of watchability.
Kevin always felt like some skinny-cocky guy, for some reason. Then you blinked or turned or your head to say something to your pal or whatever and boom: three-pointer, dunk, highlight, you name it. We’re not talking about your random NBA player here. Martin fell into a Kings’ roster already full of talent (they came from a 55–27 season) which surrounded him with the likes of Brad Miller, C-Webb, Peja and Bibby and even with that he was able to forge a partnership with the club averaging 10.1 mpg in his rookie season. Then Sacramento realized what they had in their hands, moved him to the SG position and platooned him and Bonzi Wells during a sophomore season when he started to kick shit.
And after five years and a half the Kings pulled the trigger on a big-as-hell trade that moved a lot of pieces, K-Mart involved and going to Houston where he basically had his second peak (2010–11) and scored 45 points against the LaMarcus Aldridge’s Blazers. Even with that Houston couldn’t reach the playoffs during his tenure there (shame) while starting the post-T-Mac era.
In 2012 he was the biggest piece going in Oklahoma’s direction as part of the Harden trade. What peaked there was his salary, just as a note, and becoming the 6th Man Head Honcho of OKC he thrown Houston out of the Playoffs straight away. I remember Kevin coming out of the bench to help Oklahoma and let me tell you that was some sixth man (plus he gets extra points for ending the season with 88 games played and zero starts, none at all).
Since the start of the season, we have seen three retirements (and other undercover ones such as Josh Smith great Chinese scape) and I don’t know which I hate the most. Greg Oden, Ray Allen and now Kevin Martin. My heart is feeling sad already and we have yet to see Duncan’s 21 and Kobe’s 8/24 going up to the rafters. Jeez…
