FanHouse's Tom Ziller argues his ranking of the top 50 players in the NBA.Kevin Martin is unique, most will agree. His funky wind-up, his throwback hairstyle, his extensively modest persona, his assortment of runners, floaters, jukes, jives, step-backs and cross-overs. But in a much more basic sense, his combination of slashing and shooting prowess is absolutely unmatched in the NBA.
Only two players in the history of the NBA have been potent enough off the dribble and from behind the arc to average eight FTs a game and shoot 40% from three: Michael Jordan and Kevin Martin. The purple #23 even went one better last season, averaging nine FTs a game while nailing 40% of his bombs.
Guys like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are extremely good off the dribble. They finish a lot, they find teammates, they draw fouls. But neither can shoot reliably from behind the arc. In this aspect of versatility, only Manu Ginobili and Kobe Bryant can offer the same sort of flexible potency ... and even then, Martin's more efficient in both sectors than both guys.
Scoff if you will, but this cat is clearly one of the best offensive weapons in the NBA.
For the past three years, Martin has seen his offensive role expand. In 2005-06, as a part-time starter in place of Bonzi Wells, Martin served an "energy" role extremely well: on the floor with Mike Bibby and Brad Miller, Martin got clean for the backdoor pass frequently, and worked as a one-man fast break (aka "cherry picker") occasionally. In '06-07, Martin took a featured role despite the best intentions of Bibby, Ron Artest and Eric Musselman, who at times seemed to shut him out. Due to his unnerving efficiency, Martin became the team's leading scorer despite taking less shots than Bibby or Artest.
Last season ... well, before a rough groin injury in December, Martin sat in the top-5 in the league in scoring ... despite coming behind Artest on the pecking order (still). Reggie Theus limited Martin's minutes quite a bit late in the season, understandable amid a losing season. Martin slipped under the 24-ppg mark for the season ... which still left him No. 7 in the league in scoring, despite the lower minutes. Only one guard (Kobe) scored more per-minute.
So Martin uses a bunch of offense (finally) and scores a lot. So do a lot of guys, what's the big deal?
In each of those seasons -- the "energy guy" season, the starter season, the focal point season -- Martin had a True Shooting percentage over 60%. For perspective: Tracy McGrady has never had a TS% higher than 56.4%. Allen Iverson's peak was 56.7%. Kobe's high: 58%. Wade's high: 58.3%. LeBron: 56.8%.
Almost no high volume scorers (especially perimeter players) shoot this efficiently so much as once in their career. Martin has done it three straight seasons. Amare Stoudemire has joined Martin in the "20/60 club" the last two seasons: 20 points a game, 60% True shooting. The last player to do it two straight seasons? Reggie Miller, 1995-97. This is a rare feat, left to only to most potent, efficient scorers in the land.
Not to diminish Amare's achievement -- you'll see him higher on this list -- but Martin didn't have a Nash setting the table, or a deathcab offense keeping the opposing defense off-kilter, or a creative genius manning the controls (sorry, Reggie). Martin did this with a point guard (Beno Udrih) who hadn't played in two years or started an alley-oop in 13 years (estimate), a frontcourt that wouldn't scare a marshmallow and a "sidekick" (Artest) who thinks he belongs in the MVP race and shoots, dribbles and leads as such.
Kevin Martin has done all the things I wrote above in really anti-optimal conditions. Imagine how could he'll be if the roster around him develops?
NBA Top 50
No. 50, Andris Biedrins, Warriors
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-16-2008 @ 11:13AM
June said...
I've been reading this list all the way through and there have been a few picks that really left me confused and this is one of them. I don't understand if this NBA top 50 how can Kevin Martin be ranked over Tmac/AI/B.Diddy and even J. Smith Brandon Roy and Monta Ellis he is a good player nonetheless but this is a very high ranking for someone who scores alot and shoots high percentages for a bad team he is definitely not that much more better than Tayshaun Prince and Rip Hamilton and those guys haven't even made the list this is a weird Top 50
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9-16-2008 @ 7:48PM
BB said...
He pretty much lays it all out there as to why Martin's better than the guys you've listed. Obviously, you're one in a big crowd, who underrates Martin and agrees with hyped player rankings. The only player I'd agree with you is AI, but he's bound to decline. Monta Ellis? The guy who stole Martin's Most Improved Player Award, just because his team made the playoffs? Please. Compare the stats, then come back to me on that one.
The reason why Martin's ranked so high on this list is because he's NOW the star on his team. Artest was a serious ball-hog, as well as Bibby. They're both gone now, so, expect Martin's shooting numbers to go up, as well as his PPG. I'd expect roughly around 26 to 28PPG from Martin next year because of that.
Saying Ellis is better than Martin, then comparing Martin to Tayshaun PRINCE?!? That's like a slap in the face to me. Compare the stats before you run your mouth.
9-16-2008 @ 7:55PM
BB said...
Also, to the guys that say Martin has no defense... obviously you haven't watched him play. He's been taking pointers from Artest the past 2 years on how to improve his defense. He even averages a steal per game.
9-16-2008 @ 11:24AM
Step said...
He's definitely a good player but doesn't he have to add defense and playmaking to his game? Is true shooting percentage really THAT important that it makes up for being below average in other key areas?
Offensively, I agree, he's very unique. The player I think he compares closest to is Richard Hamilton. They're great off-the-ball movers, they utilize a lot of screens, they shoot well from all areas of the floor, from deep, inside the paint, from mid-range and they're capable of breaking down a man from scratch and finishing at the basket. But Martin is even more potent than Hamilton since he gets to the line at a much higher rate.
But that said, I wonder where the assists are. It's not like he's a black hole on offense or lacks a feel for passing. When I got league pass, that's what I expected to see, a player who didn't have a good feel for his teammates. Instead I saw a guy who knows how to pass when he's trapped and doesn't shoot it every time he touches it but instead moves the ball. You can tell that's he smart on the court and that's he's composed.
Is it because he didn't get enough touches? Because Artest and Bibby had the ball the most so Martin didn't have the opportunity to do both a lot of scoring and playmaking? My other theory is that what makes him so effective on offense, the great movement and going quick before a defender gets set, inhibits his passing. When so much of your game is trying to get a beat ahead of the opposition, you're also sort of out of timing with your teammates once you make a move with the ball.
In the end, while I understand that he's one of your favorite players, I think he's ranked a little too high. His scoring game is complete but he has to be a better all-around player . As annoying as it might have been to see Artest break from the offense a lot, Sacramento was a lot better when Artest was the floor. They were getting killed without him the opening of last season and once he returned, it was voila, they looked at least competitive out there. Sacramento was a more competitive team with just Artest and missing Martin than vice versa. I think that says something about Martin needing to have more influences on more areas of the game.
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9-16-2008 @ 11:32PM
steve said...
It wasnt just artest's return it was probably moreso due to the dismissal of Orion Greene as the starting pg
9-16-2008 @ 12:51PM
mc said...
This placement feels very high. In terms of on-the-court contribution, I'm not sure how different he is than say a Michael Redd.
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9-17-2008 @ 12:59AM
Jacob Hart said...
After seeing the first 25 players i was mentally making up a list of who i would have in the next 25.
I think K mart deserves his spot (i had him in my 20) great scorer and to do so efficiently is amazing.
Cant get too wrapped up in other areas that he can work such as D and Assists, he is still so young and has time to work on them.
Also why would he pass it when he TS% is over 60%? he just needs to know how to catch it :)
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9-16-2008 @ 2:36PM
jay said...
mc -
if this list keeps going the way it does, michael redd will be coming up in the top 10
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9-16-2008 @ 3:51PM
henryclemente said...
I live in Sacramento, and see on a daily basis what Martin can do. And to all those who posted above me, I wouldn't take any other guard or swing player lower on this list over Martin. No, not even BD, definitely not AI, and probably not TMac. I might think twice about TMac, if we were playing for the here and now.
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9-16-2008 @ 6:46PM
David said...
If Kevin Martin played in a big market, I don't think anyone would question him being ranked between 20-25.
He's one of the most efficient wing scorers in the whole league, capable of scoring from anywhere on the court. And he even draws fouls at a high rate!
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9-17-2008 @ 12:05AM
Bushka said...
Redds great and all..but Martin gives you such efficient scoring and gets to the line at such an incredible rate. What more can you ask for from a player offensively?
He shoots the ball as well as anyone from deep he is explosive going to the rim and he handles the contact there like he has an extra 25 pounds on his frame.
He is improving his D every season and he needs to.
As to people comparing him to the guys you see who put up big numbers on bad teams, come on. Look at the stats. Those kind of guys are super high volume users, who shoot low percentages and are black holes in an offensive scheme.
Martin isn't he is just an absolute machine who takes exactly what the offence gives him and not a penny less, but he takes EVERYTHING they give him.
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9-23-2008 @ 1:39PM
Thashyt said...
I can see how people who don't watch K-Mart on a regular basis play might compare him to Redd.
Don't believe it.
Rip's a good player too, but i think K-Mart's already better than Rip because of his ability to go to the basket and draw fouls.
In reality, K-Mart is much more comparable to an in-his-prime Ray Allen, but K-Mart is more efficient than Allen.
What's intriguing to me about K-Mart is that he had a tremendous season last year......as the third guy. I mean he must be sleeping with some of the players' wives, cuz Salmons and Artest never passed him the damn ball! So what can he do as "The Man"?
The Monta over K-mart argument is horrible. Anyone who makes that argument has obviously never seen them play each other. It's a fun discussion to have, but its' very one-sided when you get down to it. When the Kings/Warriors have played over the past two years, K-mart looks like the best player on the floor. Not just better than Monta, but better than Baron as well. And that's with Reggie Theus running plays for Mikki Moore instead of Martin.
As far as playmaking is concerned, Martin is actually a fairly good playmaker, especially for his position. The Kings were able to get away with Beno as the only real pg while Bibby was hurt because they had Martin, Salmons, and Artest, all who can take playmaking duties from time to time. Martin can run the pg for 5-10 minutes a game if needed be. But obviously he's most effective off the ball.
The funny thing about his defense is that he was originally drafted as a defensive player. But he just never bulked up enough to be a good defender. He has good footwork, but he's too skinny to guard the bulkier 2-guards, and he isn't particularly athletic enough to make up ground.
As far as assists in his game, he won't see a lot of them on this team. If he was on a team with a more fluid offense, he would rack them up. But most of Martin's team-mates succeed in the one-on-one game, which leaves assists to a minimum. Salmons and Francisco Garcia are mainly one-on-one scorers. Plus, Beno is going to get the most assists and Brad Miller the second most. Kevin Martin is usually the third or fourth guy to touch the ball. So he doesn't get much of a chance to grab assists.
But what makes him fun to watch is that he can control the game at the free throw line or at the three-point line.
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12-14-2008 @ 10:39AM
Jim said...
do do do do do-do do-do HOMERTIME.....
Laughing hysterically at the original poster and those in agreement. Kevin Martin is probably the most overrated player in the NBA. He did a nice job this year, crying about an ankle, playing ZERO defense, streaky shooting, etc. Hes a gunner, thats it. Cant play D, cant pass, cant dribble... hes tall and he can shoot, every-other-night; CASE CLOSED.
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