Martin plans to bring youthful energy, pace
At an early age, KJ Martin stood on the sidelines at NBA practices and in locker rooms afterward, absorbing every detail and the atmosphere.
As he grew and his game matured, KJ joined the pickup games at Rico Hines' runs, playing alongside NBA All-Stars, pro prospects and others at Pauley Pavilion.
At Sierra Canyon High in Chatsworth and IMG Academy in Florida, he played against future NBA players, putting the finishing touches on a career that seemed destined since birth, given his genetics.
KJ is the son of former NBA player Kenyon Martin, sharing many of the traits that helped his father carve out a successful 15-year career (12.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg). Besides the facial resemblance, they both possess the ability to attack the rim and the skills to back down an opponent in the paint.
And now they share something else — an opportunity to play for the Clippers.
Kenyon Martin Sr. was traded to the Clippers in 2011, where he averaged 5.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in one season in L.A.
After three seasons with the Houston Rockets, where he was a second-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, KJ was traded to the Clippers in July, adding a young rotation player to a veteranheavy roster. He brings energy to the court, something he hopes to show the Clippers.
“That's my biggest thing — just keeping the pace of the game up,” KJ said via phone from the Clippers' training camp in Hawai'i. “And, obviously helping Kawhi (Leonard) PG (Paul George) and Russ (Westbrook) get open.”
KJ, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound power forward, also sees himself using his athleticism to score and his ability to defend multiple positions as more ways that could help the Clippers. Last season, he averaged 12.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 57% from the field. He also has 173 career dunks and is a career 34.3% shooter from 3-point range.
He attributes his skills not only to playing against older, more experienced players growing up, but hanging around NBA spaces where he saw how players prepared for games and how hard they worked year in and year out to get better.
“Those players helped me so much in my development process,” said KJ, 22. “Obviously they were bigger and stronger than me, so to be able to go out there and compete helped me grow. I also asked questions. That was the biggest thing, just asking questions and figuring out how to apply them to my game.”
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue's eyes light up when he talks about KJ's experience and versatility.
“I see him as a basketball player at the three, four, five, wherever we can use him,” Lue said. “Just his athleticism, being able to switch, being able to guard different positions, being able to roll to the basket, run the floor.
“He's a really good passer, he can push the ball in transition and make plays. We just want to get him on the floor just being a basketball player.”