Rockets rookie K.J. Martin sees himself as a ‘three or four’ in NBA

“I look at myself like a three or four, really. Like the role that P.J. Tucker plays with us, with him guarding multiple positions.”

One of the unknowns with new Houston Rockets rookie K.J. Martin is where the athletic prospect might eventually play in the NBA.

Officially listed by the team at 6 feet, 6 inches and 215 pounds, his body type could play either as a guard or forward. In a new interview from training camp, Martin appears to be looking to the frontcourt — and he used veteran Rockets forward P.J. Tucker as a potential template.

Here’s what Martin told Rockets Wire on Friday:

I measured at the combine like 6-7 [6 foot, 7 inches], like 6-7 and a half with shoes. I look at myself like a three or four, really. Like the role that P.J. Tucker plays with us, with him guarding multiple positions.

That’s something that I’m going to do coming in. Just being able to guard multiple positions, and also hitting open shots and using my athleticism to my advantage, running up and down the court. I look at it as whatever my coach needs me to do, I’m gonna go out and do. Whether it’s to guard a two, guard a four, or be able to switch screens, I’m going to try to do everything.

The Rockets traded for the No. 52 pick in the NBA’s 2020 draft to select the 19-year-old, who happens to be the son of Kenyon Martin — the NBA’s No. 1 pick in the 2000 draft and a 15-year league veteran.

A three-star [high school] recruit from Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles, Martin originally committed to play collegiately for Vanderbilt before opting for a postgraduate year at IMG Academy.

In the draft trade announcement, here’s how the team described him:

Martin spent last season with IMG Academy’s postgraduate team, which posted a 29-3 record, and averaged 19.6 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 69.1% from inside-the-arc.

The 19-year-old is the son of Kenyon Martin, who was the first overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft. Martin Jr. attended Sierra Canyon School in California, where he was teammates with Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cassius Stanley, who was selected by Indiana with the 54th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft.

Martin has been described as “arguably the best athlete in the draft” and he did much better on the shooting drills at the NBA’s combine than many expected, shooting 71% in the 3-point endurance drill.

Martin’s contract is already fully guaranteed for the 2020-21 season, and the Rockets have team options for up to three more seasons after that. Those future years are important, because at Martin’s young age, he isn’t likely to have a prominent role this season on a team hoping to contend. But with Tucker now 35, Martin might figure into Houston’s plans to eventually replace the veteran’s production in the years ahead.

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