Kenyon Martin

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Lore & Background

Martin's tenure with the New Jersey Nets defined an era of physical dominance. As a rookie in the 2000–01 season, he averaged 13.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Mike Miller. By his second season, Martin helped the team rise from last place in the Atlantic Division to an Eastern Conference title. Alongside Jason Kidd, Kerry Kittles, Keith Van Horn, and Richard Jefferson, he led the Nets to the 2002 NBA Finals, where they were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers. The following year, Martin again guided the team to the finals, though they lost in six games to the San Antonio Spurs. His intensity was palpable; on January 29, 2003, he recorded a career-best 21 rebounds alongside 19 points and five assists in an 86–78 victory over the Washington Wizards.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere shifted during Martin's third season when the Nets returned to the NBA Finals. Facing the San Antonio Spurs, Martin's physical presence was critical, though the team ultimately fell in six games. A defining moment of his emotional connection to the game occurred during a dispute with teammate Alonzo Mourning. Martin had mocked Mourning's life-threatening kidney disease, leading to a near-fight before Martin admitted his mistake and apologized. On an episode of the Scoop B Radio Podcast, Martin later explained that Mourning felt he should have been working as hard as him in morning shootarounds, even though Martin was never a 'shootaround guy.' This incident highlighted the high-stakes environment they shared. Despite internal friction, Martin's on-court production soared; in 2004, his averages of 16.7 points and 9.5 rebounds earned him an All-Star nod where he scored 17 points with seven rebounds.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracking Kenyon Martin's path from New Jersey, the key turning point was the trade following the 2003–04 season. The Nets exchanged their star power forward for three future first-round draft picks in a sign-and-trade deal that sent him to the Denver Nuggets. His departure ended his initial run with the franchise where he played five seasons (2000–2004), though his final year there saw his All-Star breakthrough. Before leaving, Martin established himself as a consensus National Player of the Year at Cincinnati, holding school records for career blocked shots (292) and field goal percentage (.586). His time in New Jersey remains notable for being the last era before the team's relocation to Brooklyn, anchored by a player who was the consensus pick No. 1 and a primary driver of two historic Finals runs.

Did You Know?

• Martin recorded a career-best 21 rebounds (with five assists) in an 86–78 win over the Washington Wizards on January 29, 2003; his official NBA career-high for assists is eight.
• He was the consensus National Player of the Year at Cincinnati and remains the school's all-time leader in blocked shots (292).
• In 2004, Martin scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds in his only NBA All-Star Game appearance.
• He was not the first American-born college senior selected as the top overall pick; David Robinson preceded him in 1987.