Kenyon Martin On Why Shaq and MJ Were So Tough To Guard

[@franklinterrell9392]

"That didn't happen" had me rolling.

[@mikewubben2844]

KMart was that guy you wanted on your team. Tough, did all the little things that don't show up on a stat sheet and always found a way to annoy the other team.

[@sroland3533]

As well as an Enforcer if it was ever called for.

[@mannyneva1760]

First game the nets and wizards played the Wizards won and MJ had 45

[@FredNewsome]

I don't think people understand how much people try to knock the king off the top of the mountain. MJ was just superior.

[@___Anakin.Skywalker]

Lebron superior reason why he GOAT

[@rogerwescott2301]

​@___Anakin.Skywalker mj goat not even close, To be the goat, you have to play defense and Lebron hasn't played Any defense since 2013 facts over feelings.

[@Dre_Key]

@@___Anakin.Skywalkerdirk laughed

[@Jason5818UI]

Respect to this dude and Kenyon guarded Wizards MJ who was past his prime at 38 to 40 yrs old imagine dealing with a prime MJ.

[@ahdexter7688]

Seriously! Freak athleticism

[@tech-no-logictech9743]

I really don't know where this storyline comes from but NBA players have a tendency of not always remembering things correctly with all the games they played. ☺️ MJ gave the Nets 41 in 33 minutes in preseason before his 1st season with the Wizards. He was phenomenal but when he went to the bench the rest of the team could not hold up: "With Jordan on the floor, Washington throttled the Nets, 82-57. When Jordan rested his 38-year-old body, the Nets outscored Washington, 45-13." Kenyon Martin was not playing that game so before their first rematch (also in preseason) it became a bit of a storyline of him getting a shot at guarding MJ and that he was bigger, stronger than other defenders etc. The Wizards went on to beat the Nets this time 105-92 with MJ putting up a nice performance: "Who cares if he struggled early and missed a few shots? It was MJ and we loved every second. High-flying dunks. Tongue wagging. Backing into a defender and spinning around. Holding the ball extended with one hand as he figures out his next move. And perhaps best of all, fourth-quarter grins and head shaking as if he is saying, ''There's nothing you can do to stop me.'' With the game on the line, he took over. His back-to-back jumpers gave the Wizards a 98-90 lead and another put the game away at 102-92. ''The man is amazing,'' Wizards coach Doug Collins said. " Jordan gave Kenyon Martin credit for his defense: ''I had a tough time figuring him out,'' Jordan said. ''At first, he confused me. I was rushing my shots. ... He made me play a lot better.'' And in the end, it was Jordan in total control. He gave Martin a pat on the butt and smile. Nice try, kid. The teacher has returned to class. As he showed Tuesday night, even if the shots don't always fall, the moves are still there. The fans never left. Jordan is not just a basketball player. He's a rock star." Then in their first meeting in the season MJ just came off his famous 51 point performance vs the Hornets as a response to his stinker vs the Pacers where he only scored 6 points ending his (then a record) streak of 866 regular games in double figures (give him credit for not checking back in to extend that streak despite the game being over). Just two nights after that 51 point performance he dropped 45 on the Nets including 22 straight. "From 1:55 in the second quarter to the 8:05 mark in the third quarter, Jordan went on a 22-7 personal run against the Nets. He fell 1 point short of his record 23 straight on April 16, 1987, for the Bulls against Atlanta. (He finished with 61 points in that game.)" He also grabbed 10 boards and dished out 7 assist. He could have pushed for back2back 50 point performances but was subbed out with about 3min remaining. Keep in mind these numbers came in a game where the final result was 98-76. It's crazy! His matchup with Kenyon Martin once again became a little storyline: "Kenyon Martin made a big mistake when he mentioned his back spasms to Michael Jordan. On learning this news, Jordan went to work and nearly set an NBA record. He scored 22 points in a row...! “Kenyon Martin told me he had a back problem,” Jordan said. “I don’t think he wants to tell me that. I just started attacking from that point on.” MJ was clearly on a mission to send a message to everyone: "'I was pretty sure everybody after the 6-point game was contemplating if I was old, if I could score big numbers again,'' Jordan said of his point total last Thursday in a loss to Indiana. ''I always thought that if I got in a good rhythm, I could score big numbers.'' Best 38 year old I've seen play to this day! 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@sroland3533]

The one thing MJ does is always give his Teammates & who ever he played against their Props wen they're playing good, for remember wen he played against a you Ray Allen and the coach was shouting at Ray bcse he cud stop MJ, well MJ wen running bck said Coach he's actually doing a good job, buy hey it's MJ and he wasn't easy to stop.

[@tech-no-logictech9743]

@@sroland3533 Facts. People always bring up his a-hole side but forget these things.

[@InkyMapping]

Best 38 years old? To this day? Sure about that? 38 years old? To this day? TODAY?

[@tech-no-logictech9743]

@@InkyMapping Who's been better?

[@togstags1286]

@@InkyMapping still the best 38, 39, and 40 years old.... considering the score back then usually was below 90 or 100 points, and 1 guy can score 30-50 on any given night? that's almost half of the team's score.... and with a broken ribs, broken finger, and knees with water? that dude is close to unstoppable....

[@averyce2]

Kenyon Martin was damn near as versatile as Dennis Rodman. Loved his intensity and desire to win.

[@soriba391]

he was definitely more valuable

[@MentalStillness]

Lol no disrespect but Rodman literally guarded every position at some point in his career. Point guards and centers. Dude was guarding legit Centers and point guards.

[@ronf.2029]

Rodman could guard Shaq Magic and he's a lot older and he's way shorter than KMart.

[@jlui21]

-- I know Kmart always talking about defense. Good defender but his defensive voting shares? Best was #15th in 2003. He never made a 1st or 2nd team all defense. Fun fact: Bird? Three second teams.

[@Jimmyd134]

@@soriba391😂😂😂

[@tobingallawa3322]

Kenyon Martin was non-crazy Rodman. Never stopped,always going hard, played big

[@Mr.Oct___]

False.

[@bigkatspoker]

Kenyon gave us a championship at msu in 2000…. Busted leg or they woulda ran the tables. Fuk he was a beast

[@konstantinkoverchenko9587]

Damn near no one could guard MJ. As for Kazaam, ONLY three people could actually guard Shaq. He was just that phenomenal!

[@vedounamanicadimasochisti]

Ben Wallace, maybe Rodman and... the mailman?

[@vedounamanicadimasochisti]

Or maybe just bigger guys like Yao, Mark Eaton, Sabonis.

[@cartierjoe]

Kazaam got me crying 🤣

[@whataboutthepotatoes6085]

K-Mart was a beast. You could tell he was gonna be solid during his time playing in college at Cincinnati.

[@shanemcconnell1736]

I lived in New York City when Kenyon played for the Nets with Jason Kidd, and the other guys, they were so fun to watch, I got to see a playoff game on time over in Jersey, they were really good team, every game, Jason Kidd did some pass. I had never seen before, so creative, and Kenyon was like a human cannonball

[@springfieldbearpatrol2937]

MJ could go right, go left, go over, fade, Get to the rim etc. he had every dimension, then had the mental drive to bring it every possession and every game.

[@mannyneva1760]

Kenyon defense is being exaggerated here

[@edwardfisher9930]

Facts.. he was decent defensively but he wasn't a lock down defender especially in those times where you could be physical and use your hands

[@coachtali5151]

Y'all bugging

[@raiderbro8663]

yeah, he definitely wasn't assigned on ai, reggie and on other guards in general. maybe on switches where he had to help out and he would do good but he wasn't gonna lock 'em down playing out of position like that. he was very, very good defender who had good versatility for a big enforcer but he wasn't elite like a kg or rodman

[@soriba391]

at times he was the second best shotblocker in the league (not stats wise just from the eye test impact)

[@FlyAwayChi]

​@coachtali5151 Let these goofy mfs cook bro....smh

[@mexikanman]

great interview

[@andrewmcfarlane4724]

Shocked that he never made All-D

[@SW33T_Dr34M]

Because everybody played defense during his time. He was normal

[@slimthugga1]

@@SW33T_Dr34Mlol he was not normal lol. He deserved to get one

[@The_M0st_High]

Pause..

[@MooliMafia]

Super pause

[@kerry-j4m]

Me too. Saw one game he put KOBE on-PAUSE. LOL. Had Kobe shooting air-balls too. It wasn't the whole game tho,just in the fourth quarter,I was actually SHOCKED that Martin put Kobe in his bag. LOL. Martin turned the black mamba into a garden snake.

[@FLYFFCROW-d4s]

Love his Dunking and pausing

[@Syzygy88]

Cincy Kmart was an absolute demon!!

[@FupaDoncic]

Him, Josh Smith, and Shawn Marion. Don’t know how they never got all nba defensive recognition

[@JohnDoe-101]

I know how, they weren't good enough. Yw.

[@noyce.]

I'm actually surprised Shawn Marion didn't get any all-nba defensive.

[@FupaDoncic]

@@noyce. I’d assume it was cause of the 7 seconds making all the scores high, but he proved himself in Dallas vs Miami. Big part of locking up Lebron

[@donmiguelarkanghel9537]

I love watching K-Mart during his stint with the nets. He doesn't give up on defense and he really made his opponent work for their buckets. He doesn't shy away from challenge even if he knows he is outmatched. He isn't the best of power forwards but I'd pick him over most Power Forwards today. He has heart and doesn't quit which for me is a plus to any player.

[@aceking894]

This guy is as real as it gets

[@chastongoolsby7863]

K-Mart was HIM!!!! I watched his career from when he was at Cincinnati, where he followed Nick Van Exel, Corie Blount, and played with James White (Future of Flight), Reuben Patterson (The Kobe Stopper....lol), and Melvin Levette (The Helicopter)...He was amazing.

[@kevinb8212]

I’m right there with you. Before he broke his leg in the conference tournament, the dude was unstoppable. I still love watching his college block compilations.

[@chastongoolsby7863]

@@kevinb8212 I thought when broke his leg it was over for him, he came back almost better than ever though

[@billbixby557]

I'm glad you use the word 'smudge' I haven't heard that in a while. And you're absolutely correct, if there was one thing 'Ken' ( as he was known in high school ) hung his hat on, it was his DEFENSE.

[@MJIZZEL]

Fans knew he was a special defender. Promise you that. Still got my jersey from back then.

[@noyce.]

Where's the other two co-host? Didn't see one of them at Gil's Arena no mo too

[@KevinTaylor-r1r]

I Jus Knew He Had At Least 5 All D Selections, Thats CRAZY

[@legetsimpson8136]

Kenyon Martin was HIM on Defense, not scared of anybody, always ready to throw them hands

[@la5081]

Wonder what his career would have been like if he never broke his leg in college.

[@kk-sr1wl]

Jkidd and kenyon was fun to see on nets

[@carlosjuliocastillomiguel3551]

One of my favorite players 💪🏼💪🏼🔥🔥

[@SSSMOR.]

I agree every team he was on in his prime was good defensively he defended all 5 positions except for shaq like he said and tim duncan gave him work but those was all time greats

[@SSSMOR.]

@@Joeglass44 sometimes they would have to switch and he would hold his own very well against all positions on most teams he never guarded a point/shooting guard or a center the whole game but I hope you understand sometimes you end up having to guard someone else's player playing basketball

[@SSSMOR.]

@@Joeglass44 need to chill bro just conversation I'm sorry I didn't know u was a mind reader

[@eazymoneymane7789]

You don't have to lie about mj wizards years he took off 3 years and avg 22 thats amazing

[@Rumble225-qe7fy]

Was averaging 25 before he got injured

[@karrywilliams3188]

Kenyon was a menace and he didn't play no games!!!

[@la5081]

When players prided themselves on their defense. Now, it's all about 3s.

[@ronniedeclue3567]

KMART was the truth very good defender who could get you 15-20 a night. He is a guy that could play in any era.

[@ElderYouth]

mj in the wizard playing with one leg in 82 games

[@Zacche]

He was a defensive player but didn't remember him locking someone out affecting wins because of his defense maybe that's why. Not a double double guy with his minutes and career 1 block per game. Not really a defensive stats. Look up his number or stat sheet for 15 years. And those guys you've mentioned killed him every time. Dirk Td Kobe Ai name the starts he guarded all them averaged they usual stats facing him

[@vharris5503]

Antoine Walker was never the same after Kenyon defended him when he first came into the league

[@dannyphantomplanet]

i remember kmart clotheslining garnett and karl malone. beast.

[@THECOMPANYJCIL]

Will interviewer just let Kmart talk

[@mikeqto4056]

Prime Kenyon Martin is💪 i don't know why league don't select him as all defensive team

[@nanakmccann]

His rookie season was 2000. He never guarded championship Jordan, just old Wizards Michael.

[@linnstr8609]

Kenyon is right when he said "it's still Mike", but he knows deep down there's a difference between 2003 MJ and early 90s MJ.

[@billyrosario4951]

People don’t understand how dominate SHAQ was. He was so strong he would knock you down legally then dunk on you. Maybe rip the back board down

[@thespadestable]

But Commissioner Stern did order the refs to grant Shaq a bit of leeway. What was funny about it was during his stint with the Suns, the Cavs, and with Boston, calls he wasn't getting years prior, refs began calling it on him.

[@robertgray320]

6'9 playing at 220-230 is insane. In my opinion Kmart should've played at around 250.

[@blueblur2273]

Then he would have been to slow to defend guards.

[@mrbattle2013]

Extra weight makes it harder for you to move your feet

[@toneb6173]

Jordan was gone 3 years and came back with bad knees

[@Jason5818UI]

He obviously wasn't Bulls #23 but its good he played in the early 2000s era to show even well past his prime with severely disminished athleticism he was capable of averaging 20ppg with multiple 40point games vs players like Kobe, AI, Tmac, VC , Kmart etc...

[@KWillo]

​@@Jason5818UIyep.Goes to show how solid Jordan's fundamentals were.

[@joseyeastwood]

And he played against old MJ that's crazy 😂

[@va3svd]

2002-03 he probably should have been included. But the problem with him making these teams for him is injuries. You’re not going to make it when you miss 20-30 games, and/or when you’re on a mediocre defensive team. I feel bad for him, but it is what it is.

[@chasmcgregor001]

Kmart was really that dude

[@grega4231]

Kmart just didn't have the stat line, that's all. We all know defense can't be rated on stats but we also know that the people voting for it are looking at the stat lines. Plus, he was listed at pfs and he played in an era with two of the best defensive pfs ever.

[@DionJackson-d5r]

K Mart, California love

[@ivanvillarruz8412]

If you're matched up against Kenyon, you do not face up and show him the ball. He's gonna slap that thing away.

[@JoeBuck-uc3bl]

Don’t snooze on Pippen!! Talk about someone who could light up ANYONE!! 💡 (and pound for pound the greatest defensive force that the game has ever seen)

[@Grit_Szn]

“ Yeaa That Didn’t Happen “

[@danielwiley9828]

Kg was LOUD 🤷🏿‍♂️ but I can’t disagree with K Mart he should have made one defensive team minimal

[@honorfirst7506]

1st meeting Wiz 22 point win, MJ had 45 points that’s in 2001. Next time Nets won by 40+, that’s in New Jersey.

[@maddogz973]

Mj scored 45points vs prime nets martin/kid/ kittles/vanhorn/ jefferson

[@jbrumfield6090]

Hes a huggs guy. Says it all

[@just_jeff4839]

I can't believe KMart NEVER fucking won a defensive player of the Year... that's fucked up.

[@aaronhutchinson885]

He guarded Wizard MJ and he a legit multiple position defender in any area and has this praise of MJ..😂😂😂😂

[@honorfirst7506]

Coach votes Def. Teams back then, not media.

[@workinginthewell3498]

Today on As older I get, the better I was: How Kenyon stopped MJ and Shaq.

[@mrbigdaddyjoe79]

its funny how keyon said he couldnt guard shaq but rodman could guard shaq and keyon is bigger than rodman. that just tell how really good rodman was.

[@kamilebrahimoff3589]

One was very big and the other was very skilled to put it simply for guarding them.

[@sentokigames151]

"Yea that didn't happen" well he was honest about that. All these players today thinking MJ isn't that good...just sad. Looking at LeBron, just sad. LeBron drives to the hoop everyone just steps aside and let him have the dunk so he can pad his stats and pretend he's still good...Just sad...

[@Jj-ty7qh]

The stats say it all. This man is like TO in the NFL. How can you have all these dumb lists without this man on them.

[@docallentv]

The writers some haters man straight up. Pippen never won one as well is crazy

[@truth4reel]

Guarding AI tho nah. He could never stay in front of him. Only Kobe out of any tall guy was able to guard AI

[@JohnDoe-101]

Calm down he wasn't that good on defense relax we saw the games. He was a good player no need to try to lie to people.

[@HumptyMcFly]

Just because he guarded AI doesn’t mean he was successful at it.

[@albiongashi4805]

k-mart was an exceptional defender

[@holdthetruthhostage]

KMART

[@Lilantfive10]

He had Trina though

[@robertsanders2466]

Kenyon was too hood for league.

[@bainer3052]

Put JJ Barea on LeBron, and he is done!

[@neilgutierrez1467]

Do it

[@demigodt34]

Yea that didnt happened 😂

[@rrogers2370]

I'm sorry. I grew up watching him in the league. Nobody talks about him AT ALL. I would take Shawn Kemp over this dude before the weight issues.

[@MiguelCruz-y3z]

kmart wàsn't my favorite or someone i like necesaryly but didn't dislike him ither i mean as a player and honestly i started disliking him when 1 time back in the day he was playing with the Nets in the Delta center in salt lake city ut. against the Jazz and he faul karl malone in a very dirty play and keep arguing with then late coach slone and i been and still am big utah Jazz fan and specially stockton malone , and Jerry slone fan so but that's in sporting way i mean doesn't go more than that after all is just a game ! now that he retired i don't care about most of that but well bout this video i don't find much sence in putting Jordan and shaq in the same sentence i mean they completely different players as well as their positions a shooting guard still consider the smaller positions in badketball even doe you could say 6.6 is tall already but if you compare it to a center 7 .2 over 300 p. any way Garry Payton said that for him stockton was harder to guard than Jordan i suggest you watch the video where Garry explain why he thinks that shaq was clearly the harder to guard for every one

[@cncaliguy09]

Watch lots of NBA and Kenyon was all D. This BS same reason Tony Allen never won DPOY

[@soundtrip4794]

kmart was a bust pick, he aint that reliable he is. all he know is jump around and dunk

[@powerguiller]

I just remembered that he was a number 1 pick in 2000 draft class, but he always played like a role player at best.

[@theodeslewis5261]

K-Mart was a Dog...

[@peanutbuttaguts]

KMart just hot hurt too often