|
|
|
Tuesday, October 31, 2000
Martin gets key to city; Nets clip Cavs
Associated Press
|
CINCINNATI -- A key to the city, a championship ring, a chance to play one more time on his college court. Kenyon Martin's homecoming certainly was full of awards and nostalgia.
|  | | It was like old times for Kenyon Martin during stretches of the Nets' win Friday. |
In the second half, it even felt like old times.
Martin returned to the University of Cincinnati and had 14
points and a game-high 12 rebounds Friday night as the New Jersey
Nets beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 91-83 in an exhibition.
After a 2-for-6 first half, he settled in and hit all of his four shots, looking much more like the college player of the year and the first pick of the NBA draft.
"I liked his intensity," said coach Byron Scott, who had
questioned Martin's work ethic two days earlier. "He showed me a
little bit of that Kenyon Martin I expected."
The 6-foot-9 forward held his ground in the first half, when
Robert Traylor fouled him going for a loose ball and the two got
into a shoving match, drawing a double technical.
Martin admitted he was too keyed up with all the attention on him.
"I couldn't make a shot at first," he said. "I calmed down then."
Things changed after halftime, when Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins
presented Martin and his former teammates with their Conference USA
championship rings at midcourt. That revved up the crowd of 10,134
and left a big smile on Martin's face.
With former Cincinnati guard and Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson looking on from courtside, Martin turned it up in the third quarter. He scored the Nets' first three baskets, blocked a shot and helped New Jersey pull comfortably ahead.
Before the game, Martin was low-key about his return, saying there was little emotion invested. Instead of basking in the moment, he was trying to win over a skeptical coach and new teammates.
"This is business, not leisure," he said, sitting in front of
his old dressing cubicle, which now features a small golden plate
engraved with his name for posterity. "A lot of people seem to
forget I've got a game to play."
For Martin, this game was as big as some of those he played on
the same court as a freshman, when he was trying to show Huggins a
few things.
Scott wondered aloud on Thursday about Martin's inconsistent preseason and questioned his work ethic -- a stinging remark for the forward and his former coach.
"That shocks me," said Huggins, who remains close to Martin.
"From the day he walked in here, he worked (hard). I think he's
probably trying to feel out the situation with his leg.
"I think he's going to be a great player; I don't know if it's
going to be this year. He's got great explosion -- or, he had great
explosion. All of the medical people told me he'd come back."
Martin broke his leg during the Conference USA tournament seven months ago. The injury has prevented him from getting into top shape, and Martin admitted after a morning workout that it still limits him.
"I go hard for two or three hours but after that, it will tighten up," he said.
After the workout, he walked through the Shoemaker Center
unnoticed by all but one fan. Martin saw a new exhibit in the
hallway that features a color photograph of him blocking a shot,
with seven of his trophies and plaques arranged below.
He was whisked to City Hall, where Mayor Charlie Luken presented him with a key to the city and told him: "You are always welcome here."
The university has made sure he'll always be remembered. His
retired No. 4 hangs on a wall behind one basket, right next to
Robertson's, and his white home uniform and red warmup are on
display in an encased cubicle inside the locker room that the Nets used.
Danny Fortson's uniform is honored the same way on the other side of the room.
Martin got the loudest ovation in pregame introductions, then
went to a courtside microphone and thanked the fans for coming.
"I look forward to giving y'all a good show tonight. Enjoy the
game," he said.
|
|
|
|
