Obscured by Sacramento’s irrelevance since the death of the C-Webb era is the emergence of Martin as one of the league’s most proficient young scorers. One of their few bright spots in recent years, he seemingly came out of nowhere, evolving from a late first-round pick, into a streaky shooter, and eventually a top-shelf gunslinger who was quick on the draw and deadly from close and long range. He put up 24/game for the Kings last year, good for sixth in the league, and truly established himself among the league’s best talents. Equal parts quick and smart both on and away from the ball, he’s a defensive nightmare in the mould of the guy he just beat out; he’s a pinball on the offensive end, bouncing and darting in every which direction.
Not to say his skills aren’t also very polished, his jumper’s become automatic from just about anywhere and his handle and passing ability are better than adequate. While he’s quick on D, he’s also not terribly long or strong, which can be a liability when you’re guarding say, Kobe Bryant, or somewhat excusable when you’re being flanked by Ron Artest.
Sad truth is, despite his newfound sickness, he’s still a ghost to the casual NBA fan. Playing on a lottery squad on the West coast means he’s seen less time on national TV than Johnny Drama, which is a shame. Not only that but Sacramento seems stuck in the “we’re not quite rebuilding” phase, which given the depth in their conference, isn’t getting them anywhere. Who knows when the Kings will finally get their act together, but they just locked up Martin long-term, so for his sake, let’s hope it’s soon.
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