Kenyon Martin

Kenyon Martin

Kenyon Lee Martin Sr. was born in Saginaw, Michigan on December 30, 1977. He played college basketball for the Cincinnati Bearcats and was named the national college player of the year during his senior season. Martin was drafted with the first overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft by the New Jersey Nets. He led the U.S. team to the gold medal in the World University Games, leading the team in scoring and rebounding. Martin is the father of former NBA star Michael Martin, who played in the NBA from 1998 to 2002.

About Kenyon Martin in brief

Summary Kenyon MartinKenyon Lee Martin Sr. was born in Saginaw, Michigan on December 30, 1977. He played college basketball for the Cincinnati Bearcats and was named the national college player of the year during his senior season. Martin was drafted with the first overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft by the New Jersey Nets. He was an NBA All-Star in 2004. Martin led the U.S. team to the gold medal in the World University Games, leading the team in scoring and rebounding. Martin now participates in Alonzo Mourning’s annual charity basketball game, but he was never a guy who shootarounds, so he never took part in the game. He is the last American-born college senior to have been the top overall pick. Martin has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati. He has a sister, Tamara, who is 3½ years older. Martin’s mother worked two jobs, and he was often watched by his sister while their mother worked. Martin stuttered as a child, and attended three high schools in four years. He sought refuge in sports, playing basketball, baseball, and football.

His mother and his older sister, who by then were both working two jobs and attending college, steered him to return to finish college. He led the Nets to the 2002 NBA Finals, where they were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers. At the end of the 2003–04 season, Martin was traded to the Denver Nuggets for three future draft picks in a three-round draft. He now plays for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of China. In the 2004 NBA All Star Game, Martin grabbed 17 points, 7 rebounds and had 3 assists for the Eastern Conference All-Stars en route to his first NBA all-star selection, as a backup forward. He also played for the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA, and was a backup power forward for the Knicks and the Clippers. Martin is the father of former NBA star Michael Martin, who played in the NBA from 1998 to 2002. He currently works as a personal trainer in Dallas, Texas. He lives with his wife and two children in a suburb of Dallas.