Kenyon Martin: The ELITE DEFENDER with the Athleticism of a BLAKE GRIFFIN or AARON GORDON | FPP

When you talk about some of the most athletic players in NBA history, his name doesn’t come up often, but Kenyon Martin is firmly in that conversation. The only reason it doesn’t come up too much, is because you only got about 4 years of a fully healthy K-Mart in the NBA. He started making a name for himself as a defensive anchor with the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, until having a breakthrough during his senior season; leading the Bearcats to a #1 NCAA ranking, and being named National College Player of the Year, but then right as they were getting ready to make a run at the title, Martin suffered a horrible leg injury, ending his college career with a sour taste in his mouth. Luckily, he was still the #1 Selection of the 2000 NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets. Then once they acquired Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson before his second year. Kenyon Martin was about to take off, as the their new trio led them to back to back NBA Finals Appearances in 2002 & 2003, with Martin acting as one of their top scorers and best defenders. He would be traded to Denver prior to his 5th pro season, and it seemed like a team with him Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby and eventually Allen Iverson would be unstoppable. But he dealt with knee issues early, which were handled poorly, causing his knees to deteriorate at a rapid rate, yet he would still become who is believed to be the first player to return from Microfracture surgery on both knees, as he gave the Nuggets good production on both ends of the court for the better part of a decade, even as his explosiveness disappeared. He spent his last few years in bench roles on the Clippers, Knicks and Bucks; yet was always productive in his limited minutes. It’s a shame that his injuries, and feuds with George Karl in Denver stifled what should have been his prime, but he still carved out a role for 15 years and at the very least was one of the NBA’s last true enforcers and intimidators. But when he was healthy and on the New Jersey Nets, he was a rare breed, with the athleticism of a Blake Griffin, Amare Stoudemire or a modern example, Aaron Gordon, yet a more impressive defender than any of them, as he could truly anchor a defense and guard nearly every position on the floor.
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[@ForgottenPlayerProfiles]

Minor correction: Camby won DPOY in 2007, not 2008

[@k.romance4545]

Can you do Ron Artest

[@martinjohnson41]

Keep up this amazing work you do. Love the content This reminds us of so many talented players who were skilled just foegotten

[@PiranhaGamesPlus]

As a lifelong Nets fan K-Mart was my favorite player growing up. The intensity and hustle he played the game with was awesome to watch

[@SavingSoulsMinistries]

real talk man i remember listening to those early net games on the radio before i went to sleep. jkidd and the gang 0 including kerry kittles haha. those were the days

[@Byronic19134]

As a lifelong Sixers fans who somehow always both hated the Nets and loved their team at the same time. I use to love that lineup of Kidd, Kittles, Keith and KMart. Then somehow they turned that into an even more deadly uptempo team when they paired Kidd with Vinsanity and RJ.

[@martinjohnson41]

​@Byronic19134 They definitely did ramp it up . Been a long time raps fan. But loved wacthing Kidd, K-mart and co.. ball put

[@brickcityaz429]

WORD!!! He will FOREVER be a JERSEY FAVORITE.

[@seanlamar29]

I enjoys his insight on gils arena much respect og

[@blakebrown84]

Kenyon Martin Sr. was a defensive anchor for his hustle, rebounding and blocking skills. During his prime, he was a freak of nature athlete and a good defender. His impact on the court was displayed in his scrappy nature and athleticism when attacking the rim. He was a great teammate who played with the likes of Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony and many others.🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

[@JohnnyScumbagg]

Did u copy and paste that? Who tf calls him Kenyon Martin Sr. It’s K Mart my guy or straight Kenyon Martin

[@stevelegreid]

He’s still the most dominant college player I’ve ever seen. Watch his game against DePaul in 2000. Such an amazing performance. He was a grown man against children

[@olufemiazeez320]

One of my favorite players growing up, intense dunker!

[@zeroturn7091]

Wish that I could’ve seen him play at Cincy before breaking his leg. Word was that he was even more athletic😭

[@smoothdstarrwalker6646]

He was I seen him I'm a Duke fan and he killed us his last year in the regular season

[@Billy-ot8mk]

Man K-Mart was so good in NJ.

[@mynameismyname5124]

He attacked the rim like it owed him money. 😂😂😂

[@demanager0412]

Kenyon was my favorite player when I played ball myself as a kid, it had so much flair when he dunked everytime.

[@bbryant9455]

He would bully so many down low in the current league. He was strong as hell 💪

[@certifiedchaos4643]

He would be similar to Giannis

[@flaming3652]

@@certifiedchaos4643 With his strength and high jumping, I would say Ben Wallace with a slightly better offensive game.

[@certifiedchaos4643]

@@flaming3652 yea he had a solid game He had a jump hook floater solid post moves. I do think if he got that Udonis haslem midrange jumper he would have made made a few more all stars and all nba teams.

[@whodeycinbengals]

One of my all time favorite players, and my all time favorite Cincinnati Bearcat!

[@IllMatic97]

A Cincinnati fan? How low class

[@Classicbasketballdvds]

K-Marrrrtttttt (Nets PA announcer voice) i used 2 luv when the PA announcer would say his nickname after he scored or even his real name lolz. I always thought K-Mart was lost in the overload of great PF talents back in the late 90s-early 2000s. That position was jam packed with greats like Duncan, Webber, KG, Dirk, Vin Baker, McDyess, Elton Brand, Sheed, JO, Malone, Anthony Mason, Joe Smith etc

[@Bigedub101]

2000s all they seem to do was draft big men to stop Shaq really

[@uberempty]

those nuggets teams were really fun to watch with kmart. dude was beast. even with injury the fanbase here loved/s the guy

[@lcchill]

He did not have the career you expect of a number one pick, but to be fair this was a week draft. With that being said, even though he is not a hall of famer he did have an excellent career. His senior season at Cincinnati was breathtaking, as he finally grew on the offensive end!!

[@Doknot-tb9ey]

Kenyon was a beast and was one hell of a dunker.

[@kincamell2]

Fam was nice Peace to my Fam in the 907.The Alaskan Shootout was a solid tournament .

[@user-fs2jw9en6j]

Great job on this one!!!

[@bobbyfischerworldwide9510]

im proud of you man keep up the good work

[@vicecityveto]

Him and Ben Wallace blocks use to look so powerful

[@CT504717]

Appreciate the lookout bro 😌 🙏🏽

[@dvd7826]

Nice!!!, Do one on Vince Young and Mat Leinart, thought these 2 would be rivals for a loong time

[@-bando1017]

Glad i found your channel.. definitely gained a new subscriber 🥶

[@thetruthstand]

I actually met Kenyon Martin when he was a Cincinnati bearcat. I hated seeing him whenever he would come to Charlotte to play the UNC. Charlotte 49ers. But when I met him he was a nice guy. Lol

[@usmankenchi908]

Brian Grant

[@Courtdigga05]

He Single handedly dominated his senior year!!! If he hadn't got injured they would have won the CHAMPIONSHIP

[@bullet4830]

K-Mart was that guy with the Nets and he was hoopin when he was with the Nuggets . His athleticism, intensity and his defense was very elite . Reminded me of Garnett at times

[@mahganhaahmathkayayahawahw5929]

Dude you are detailed on this one. I’m from the same town as him.

[@jefferywaters8622]

We want Josh smith next please

[@lashgoshotwheels1127]

Thank you 😊

[@Abyfresh523gmail]

Best College player I've ever seen-

[@certifiedchaos4643]

Kenyon was a really good player and he was an elite defender . If kenyon stays in the east with the nets he’s probably a 6 to 7 time all star 3 to 5x all nba defense team and 2x all nba 3rd team. I also wish he went to Miami in the 2012-2013 Miami heat

[@RDJenki1]

Of all of K Mart’s accomplishments, his biggest was banging rapper Trina, in her prime.

[@realtalkfbs]

😂😂😂

[@DontheP97]

Mannnn that’s hall of fame worthy right there

[@pheo1418]

He was crazy about that girl got her 💋 tatted on his neck 😂

[@Simon_Diamond803]

I always thought he and Method Man were brothers lmao

[@master-kq3nw]

That nets was amazing 2002 2003 miss new jersey jets

[@jaybrown7811]

He got some good highlights

[@bojanjovicic1723]

Thank you for making this one. All the players from late 90s and early 00s are slam dunk. And K-Mart is a cult classic 👍 next one can be Ricky Davis 😎🇷🇸

[@jakesommers6366]

Do one of these on david west

[@GIMMETHELOOTNOW]

Long live my NJ Netz💯💯😭

[@mattvargashasyourback]

I’m from CO, most dudes who own a baby blue K Mart Nuggets jersey can throw hands. Avoid the mf’s in the K Mart jerseys until you can allocate some XP to that unarmed combat stat knowmsayin

[@1regularperson]

If the NBA had a player prototype “tree”, then Kenyon Martin would come from the Bill Russell “branch”.

[@mrnic3guy305]

Kmart was my guy the nets would not have went to the finals back to back without him.and he was number 1 pick with a leg fracture

[@samuraibeastwarrior2886]

please do Shannon Anderson next

[@josheasy6716]

Solid defender Kmart !..

[@MarkFranklin-ws5jf]

As I always say, the way to cure Gentile Ben Simmons, is to lock him in a phone booth with Kenyon Martin. See who comes out alive! I think the New Jersey Nets years are on my short list of greatest favorites teams. Just loved how that team played with heart. Kenyon has played with so.much heart, they weren't the best team, but the hardest working team

[@TheMick126]

I was watching the game in which he broke his leg in my hometown of Memphis

[@charismatic9904]

So its all your fault

[@jasonic-ks2tm]

As an older man I've always thought that people never gave David Robinson an Clyde Drexler or Chris Mullin the credit they deserve

[@RodNubianKing]

David Robinson & Clyde Drexler are in the HOF!

[@jasonmoye2246]

K-Mart was nice in New Jersey!!!

[@BballBully]

Did u ever make one of these videos for Indiana pacers forward Jermaine O’Neal ?

[@ForgottenPlayerProfiles]

Yeah you'll probably have to go pretty far back on the channel, but I got one on him

[@BballBully]

@@ForgottenPlayerProfiles I WILL DEF LOOK FOR IT NOW! Nice

[@TooDuStrong]

Corey Maggette would be a good video

[@michaelallen8112]

Just despicable he wasn't never on All Defensive team. Just shows, alot the so-called accolades are popularity contest

[@mathiasmaire9168]

Concerning All-Defensive teams, your comment is hilarious! Garnett and Duncan were the only more popular forwards to be named in ADT during his time (arguably Ron Artest, but in terms of popularity, K-Mart was not bad, as popularity relies more on highlights than anything else). Others were Tayshaun Prince, Bruce Bowen and Andrei Kirilenko... Ratliff was named twice as center, Doug Christie as guard... yeah for sure they are the more popular players ever!! Even in 2003-04 (K-Mart's best year) he wasn't at the level of Bowen and Kirilenko on the defensive end. K-Mart was a very good defender, not an elite defender...

[@michaelallen8112]

@@mathiasmaire9168 stop lying keep it moving he should had been on there 1- 3 x keep it moving. I don't need lowlife sidebar

[@thecarter8700]

Yup then Marion Gerald Wallace Josh smith came around too .. Tough era to get in that mix@@mathiasmaire9168

[@invincible0463]

​@@mathiasmaire9168 bowen was just a dirty player. He relied on tryna hurt ppl that's it.

[@mathiasmaire9168]

@@invincible0463 He was dirty for sure, but that's not it. He spent hours watching videos of his opponents to know their every move, and was a shutdown in his time (he didn't hurt all the players he played against). A hard worker with very limited natural talent who worked his way into the NBA to have a decent career, indeed highlighted by some (many) dirty plays.

[@jasonic-ks2tm]

Elton brand, Corey maggette

[@Ryanrhodes1]

It looks like K Mart was robbed for rookie of the year

[@thomasbridges7323]

Ahh yeah very good player loved his game his blocks were really something send the balls down the court hard player

[@KWTX22]

Oak Cliff Texas

[@sylverhyacinthdoronila5690]

He wasn't really a post performer, jason kidd made him who he is as a player.

[@SamuelMorris-iw5my]

Those nets teams should have gotten one

[@ericrussell9746]

K mart was my guy

[@dawonblair7424]

Rashard mcants next?

[@birdbangbobaruni]

This guy was so Elite do 1 on Mario Eli

[@ngarci8040]

Legit…!!!

[@master-kq3nw]

Martin was good in nets

[@layvonnenewman]

I fw with Kmart and I'm from Dallas....but he ain't have Blake's athleticism lol...he was nice tho

[@bolsbolbol368]

He was nowhere near the level of Blake Griffin offensively, but even at an older age Kenyon was a still a very good defender, especially in the post. He was strong enough to guard bigger guys and not need the double team.

[@user-be7tc2bd6e]

I always thought he was over-rated,especially being a first round pick. A wanna be tough guy,all he did was-TALK-you to death. LOL. Now,Charles Barkley was an enforcer and a fighter,lots of videos of him throwing them hands. LOL.

[@judahmourns2995]

Yeah you obviously have no idea of what you’re talking about… “wanna be tough guy “???? 😂😂😂😂😂😂 lmbooooo

[@eugenedantzler4485]

K MART!!!! Dude was an enforcer!!!! Highly underrated!!!!

[@realtalkfbs]

Problem with Kmart (besides the injuries) was he never developed any perimeter skills. As an undersized power forward he couldn't dominate that golden era of power forwards and he couldn't play the 3 cause he couldn't shoot or handle the ball.

[@staydiligent7325]

K-Mart had the athleticism of Aaron Gordon but not Griffin I don’t think people understand Blake’s athleticism I’ve woke up out my sleep saw him dunk on someone and thought I was dreaming.

[@karlmchenry250]

My the good old days when you only got 2 games for decking another player

[@ThePoisonMist]

Big fan of K Mart. That being said, to say he had the athleticism of Blake Griffin is insane.

[@brandonpierce4472]

Nah it’s not, Blake could jump higher, but Kenyon could definitely jump out the gym, but Kenyon had waaaaaay more lateral quickness, hence why he was a 10x better defender than Blake

[@ThePoisonMist]

@@brandonpierce4472 so better defender = more athletic? Blake Griffin wasn’t just jumping out of the gym he was jumping into low orbit. I’m an older nba fan and was a huge KMart fan back in the day, but I still think you’re wrong.

[@brandonpierce4472]

@@ThePoisonMist not sure how you surmised that but Blake was never known for his defense, ever

[@ThePoisonMist]

@@brandonpierce4472 again, I’m saying, being a better defender doesn’t automatically make you more athletic than someone else. I’m not arguing that Blake was a better defender, I’m arguing that he was more physically gifted athletically than Kenyon. It’s really not that deep, it’s a matter of differing opinions

[@bobbiemaxwell9856]

I’m I the only one that thinks he was athletic but nowhere near either of the 2 guys mentioned in the thumbnail?

[@RE1GN_BLOOD]

Was this the only player you could think of???

[@shaieresmirnoff]

Imagine he had that balco

[@bt7528]

He was a just a dunker. Once the ability to out jump people was gone he didn't have anything to fall back on..

[@DJReyzor357]

He could've gotten a 💍 with the The Heatles but chose instead to join Melo and the Knicks 😆 🤣 😂 Probably still trying to avoid Trina. 😅

[@jayfields206]

So elite that most power forwards he matched up against are champions or hall of famers. Which one is he again?

[@James-ki5ix]

Don't know how k- Mart didn't win rookie of the year?

[@lilpenny1982]

If he didn't get a knee injury in college, Kenyon would've had a better career. Maybe like Amare Stodoumaire

[@RobertDGordon]

KMart should have won ROY over Miller...

[@dukecavelli4444]

I still dont understand how mike miller won ROTY over Kenyon, thats bugged out, he was better in every stat category, he got robbed.

[@Milli2x74]

Kenyon was not a dirty player he was a rugged player.

[@tonochiehardy9465]

K Mart was Dog He was 🔥🔥🔥🔥 in Jersey in Denver he was Good but injuries

[@acupoflmaonade]

jkidd made this bum and richard jefferson look good.

[@mathiasmaire9168]

I really love your channel, but already a few times I thought "this player is not forgotten at all, but should be more", and this time we reach the sky... Athletic freak with a mismanaged energy leading to many foul troubles... period. Can't dribble, can't pass, can't shoot outside of 3 feet (just look at his career stats), and, as many other players from that era, a basketball IQ close to 0. Would have been one of the biggest bust of all-time if he didn't play with Kidd and wasn't the "best" player of the worst draft ever...

[@MenverMan]

The Thugets got screwed by the refs

[@chrisdhouse]

Blake Griffin was definitely more athletic than KMart. Griffin is more comparable to Kemp or Zion in terms of athleticism

[@MrMixItup]

Martin lacked leadership, so much of his talent took a backseat to his behavior. That “tough guy” shit only works against scary dudes. Martin wasn’t big enough or street enough to scare the dudes that counted. The NBA Finals needed him at his best, not his mouth at his worse.

[@initialTRD]

all this while tearing acl before becoming pro

[@joeypierantonis7576]

Bro love the content-premise, but 40 mins is way too long for these vids. After all, we not talking about Michael here... Just my opinion though.

[@lordbastich]

This is a joke right? Elite defender?

[@konstantinkoverchenko9587]

Kmart was pretty solid, but he never evolved to a dude that could really guard 1 through 5. Games vs Shaq, he just disappeared. Trying to guard Kobe was just laughable. 😆

[@31doa]

You pick Shaq and Kobe as the measuring stick😂. Who in the hell had ever stopped Shaq or Kobe.

[@denigster]

worst nr 1 pick of all time