It's hard to believe Kenyon Martin was hounded by doubt and apprehension before the 2000 NBA Draft. But he was. Plenty of it.
If you remember correctly, Martin -- who won Player of the Year honors during his senior season at Cincinnati -- fractured his fibula during a Conference USA quarterfinal game. That freakish accident immediately cast a cloud of skepticism over the wounded Bearcat. Would the leg ever be the same? If so, could he recover in time for the upcoming season? Should his value plummet like an overhyped tech stock? The debate raged in NBA circles. Names like Darius Miles and Marcus Fizer were discussed as possible replacements for the draft's Big Kahuna.
But the New Jersey Nets, who owned the top pick, decided Martin was worth the risk. They selected the 6-9, 230-pound power forward, figuring the 23-year-old shotblocker extraordinaire would rehab his leg into pre-injury shape. (Note: Part of New Jersey's decision was based on Martin's intense work ethic. During four years of college -- four years! -- he displayed a strong desire to improve and craft his game.)
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After 27 NBA games, after 27 nights of pounding, we now know the Nets made the right choice. If the season ended today, Martin would win Rookie of the Year without a single recount or dimpled Chad. With his bruising presence on the glass and tricky low-post moves, he is a perfect complement to Stephon Marbury and Aaron Williams. Just think of the forward combinations when Keith Van Horn returns. Although Jersey may have to shuffle the roster, don't count on Martin losing too much playing time. He's already becoming a cornerstone for the franchise.
While starting all of the Nets' games, Martin leads rookies in points (10.6), rebounds (7.3), blocks (2.0) and minutes per game (33.8). The only area where Martin has struggled is at the freebie stripe, where he's converted a rim-bonking 56 percent.
But knowing Martin, that percentage should steadily climb. Why? We're basing that assumption on his past. You have to realize that Martin got off to a slow start at Cincy. He wasn't one of these precocious dudes who arrives on campus and is instantly pegged as lottery material. In fact, he averaged only 2.8 points and 3.4 rebounds a game during his freshman season. Does that sound like the top pick in the NBA Draft? That's why the man deserves props. Through grit and extra hours of training he improved his numbers and skills each year.
"He's the consensus No. 1 pick in college basketball and that won't change," Milwaukee Bucks Director of Scouting Larry Harris said before the draft. "He plays with a ton of energy."
Martin always played with more energy than a nuclear power plant, but becoming the No.1 pick wasn't automatic way back in 1996 when he was an under-developed youth. This is a case where staying in school produced large dividends. Martin probably would have been a first-rounder if he left school after his sophomore or junior year, but he may not have elbowed his way into the draft's elite.
Because of his breakout senior season, where he dunked, swatted, rebounded and posted up his way into our family rooms via the TV, he elevated his status to the No.1 pick. As a result, he's a player with maturity and character. He is not a project. He doesn't need to add 30 pounds to his frame. He's ready to produce and make an impact now. Martin was emotional at the Draft because he knew he had positioned himself into this terrific spot.
"These three months, like I've said before, have been outrageous for me -- knee rehabbing and all that stuff. It's been unreal," Martin said 90 days after breaking his leg. "When they called my name it was like a sigh of relief. I worked so hard for four years and now I guess it's panning out for me. I can't stop now. I have to get better from here and just move on."
A scary thought for the opposition: Martin isn't done improving?
We can't wait to see the finished product.