BOSTON–The Philadelphia 76ers acquired KJ Martin, along with three other players, from the Los Angeles Clippers in the big James Harden deal. Martin is an athletic player who can provide a lot of different aspects on the floor, but he hasn’t gotten an opportunity just yet.
In eight games with the Sixers, Martin is averaging just 1.0 points and 0.9 rebounds in 5.1 minutes per game. It is a big difference for the 22-year-old from Los Angeles after he played in all 82 games for the Houston Rockets in the 2022-23 season and averaged 12.7 points and 5.5 rebounds in 28.0 minutes per game.
After having such a prominent role in Houston, this is a big difference in roles and it can be tough on anybody.
“Yeah, for sure,” Martin admitted at shootaround on Friday. “I mean, I think it’s tough for anybody. I’m a competitor at the end of the day. So I just want to go out there and play basketball. That’s what I love to do and it’s what I worked for all my life. So it’s a little bit tough for sure.”
With that being said, Martin has remained a professional through it all. He has continued to put the work in and he continues to be ready for any opportunity coach Nick Nurse gives him in any situation.
“Just staying ready,” he added. “There’s certain stuff you can control. I know I can control coming in every day still getting my work in and staying ready for anything.”
Luckily for Martin, he has an NBA father he can lean on for advice. Martin’s father is former NBA All-Star Kenyon Martin who had a successful 15 seasons in the NBA. Toward the end of his career, the elder Martin played limited roles as his time in the league was coming to an end.
Whenever KJ needs some advice, his dad is always there to lend an ear.
“It was a little bit different,” Martin finished. “My dad closer towards his end of his career, he was kinda in the same situation. So it’s a little bit different, but he told me the same thing just work out, stay in shape, and be ready for anything.”
Martin’s name will certainly pop up in trade rumors throughout the coming weeks and heading into the Feb. 8 trade deadline. It will be interesting to see how he progresses with the Sixers leading into the deadline over the next few weeks.
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