Tag: KJ Martin Jr.

Rockets star Jalen Green credits team approach for his recent surge

“I am really just trying to take the shots that my guys get me, instead of forcing all the time and having to jack up shots,” Jalen Green says of his recent surge. #Rockets

A lot occurred at the FedExForum on Wednesday night as the Houston Rockets took on the Memphis Grizzlies.

Memphis superstar Ja Morant returned from his eight-game suspension for violating the NBA’s code of conduct policy. Morant was suspended after posting an Instagram live stream from a Denver strip club, where he was seen waving a firearm. After undergoing multiple counseling sessions at a Florida facility, he rejoined the team.

The crowd erupted when Morant checked into the game late in the first quarter.

All-Star big man Jaren Jackson Jr. had a season-high 37 points and 10 rebounds as Memphis defeated Houston, 130-125. Rockets forward KJ Martin scored a career-high 31 points in the loss while Kevin Porter Jr. finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the second triple-double of his career.

But what stood out to fans was the continued evolution of second-year shooting guard Jalen Green, who led Houston in scoring with 32 points. He has scored 30-plus points in 13 games this season.

Over Houston’s last four outings, Green has averaged 29.2 points per game, shooting 48% from the field and 38% from 3-point range.

“Him being efficient, getting to the free-throw line, having great shot selection, it just looks like he is under control on the basketball court,” head coach Stephen Silas said of Green, the No. 2 overall pick from the first round of the NBA’s 2021 draft class. “You think about this time last year where he kind of started to get it going, it is even better now because he is doing it more efficiently.”

In short, the game is slowing down for Green. With rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. becoming more of an offensive weapon to go along with Porter and Martin, the 21-year-old is playing more freely.

“I am really just trying to take the shots that my guys get me, instead of forcing all the time and having to jack up shots,” Green said postgame in Memphis. “Guys are locked in, setting screens, and we have been executing the offense pretty well. I think that plays a big part in how I have been scoring.”

The Rockets have a Friday rematch in Memphis before heading to Cleveland for Sunday’s game. With Green becoming more efficient and productive on both ends of the court, Houston (18-55) has won three of its last six games and five of its past 11, overall.

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Stephen Silas excited by Houston’s improvement on defense, rebounds

“That was the game,” #Rockets head coach Stephen Silas says of Houston’s late defensive effort in a win over Atlanta. “The extra effort plays, the big time rebounds we got.”

HOUSTON — So many things happened in the Rockets’ 128-122 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night at Toyota Center.

Houston trailed by 16 points late in the third quarter, 90-74, but they outscored Atlanta the rest of the way, 54-32, to secure their fourth win of the season. They ony allowed 18 fourth-quarter points after giving up 104 through three periods.

Atlanta’s All-Star backcourt of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray could not be stopped for much of the game; they torched every Rockets defender that tried.

For the game, they combined for 83 points on 52 shot attempts. But when their team needed them the most in the final period, the superstars folded under pressure with a collective 14 points (seven on made free throws) on 3-for-9 shooting (33.3%) from the field.

That wasn’t enough when compared to the fourth-quarter play of second-year Rockets guard Jalen Green and rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr., whose 17 points pushed Houston over the hump. It also helped that Houston out-rebounded Atlanta by a staggering margin.

“That was the game,” Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said of his team’s defensive effort in the fourth quarter. “The extra effort plays, the big time rebounds we got from KJ (Martin) and Jabari (Smith) jumping over people to grab rebounds. We got tired of them scoring on us. That is a good thing to have when you have guys out there who are like, ‘They are not going to do that anymore.’ That says a lot about our character and our group.”

The last time Houston was victorious in a game in which they trailed by double-digits at the start of the fourth was also against Atlanta on Dec. 13, 2021. They faced a 13-point deficit in that game.

Silas and his staff had to be elated, particularly when looking at the statistics. Houston had 37 second-chance points, whereas Atlanta (11-8) only had two. They also had to smile when they looked over at the rebounding stat line that displayed 59 total rebounds, 22 of which came on the offensive end of the floor.

Four Rockets players scored 20 or more points in the game. Green led the way with 30, while reserve shooting guard Garrison Mathews led all scorers off both benches with 20.

While all those things were critical to Houston winning the game to split the season series with Atlanta, none of it would have been possible if it had not been for a big game played by Martin.

The third-year forward’s imprint on the game was huge, as he scored 21 points and grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds. With veteran Eric Gordon out for rest on the front end of a back-to-back, Martin took his place in the lineup and made his fifth start of the 2022-23 season.

Martin also shut down a vital member of Atlanta’s offense in John Collins, who was very ineffective, finishing with a measly 8 points in 34 minutes. It was somewhat of a revenge game for Martin after the earlier meeting, where Collins had 24 points to lead all scorers in a 117-107 Hawks win. Martin scored 6 points in a losing effort.

Martin, 21, has been very productive early this season, scoring in double digits in 12 of the 18 games he has played. That includes each of the last four, with averages of 13.7 points and 7 rebounds.

Houston (4-14) will have no time to celebrate the win over the Hawks. It will be back in action versus Oklahoma City (8-11) on Saturday night at Toyota Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Central.

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KJ Martin welcomes Houston children to special Thanksgiving event

“It was great,” KJ Martin said of his Thanksgiving event for Houston children. “Anything with kids, I am one thousand percent for. Any chance I have an opportunity to give back, I am all for it.”

HOUSTON — The chatter inside the room full of young boys at the Urban Enrichment Institute increased when they received word the special guest they had been waiting for had arrived.

Standing outside the door was third-year Houston Rockets forward KJ Martin, responsible for the gift bags full of Thanksgiving food for the families of the 50 underprivileged young boys in attendance. As he made his way into the room, the young men began to show their excitement by cheering and clapping for Martin.

“It was great,” Martin said of the event. “Anything with kids, I am one thousand percent for. Any chance I have an opportunity to give back, I am all for it.”

Martin, 21, spent 30 minutes answering questions regarding his path to the NBA, what it is like playing against some of the superstars, as well as what it was being raised by his father, Kenyon Martin Sr., who played 15 seasons in the NBA.

“They asked me some great questions,” Martin said. “I am 21, but me being in this position, I feel like I have a good of knowledge to help them.”

The Urban Enrichment Institute is located in Fifth Ward. It helps economically distressed neighborhoods to overcome the urban problems of gang violence, drug abuse, high teen pregnancy rates, school dropout and crime. Some programs include graphic arts, financial literacy, robotics, photography/film, etc.

“It means the world to our kids and program,” said Keith E. Cornelius, executive director. “These young men see athletes and entertainers on TV and social media all the time, but to have someone come here who is so humble and personable as KJ, it makes their day.”

“They go home, and they talk to their friends and families about meeting a Rockets player, an up-and-coming superstar at our program,” Cornelius added. “This goes a long way because you never know what is going to be the trigger to take a young man to the next level.”

Martin has been a vital part of the Rockets’ rotation this year, averaging 10.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. His defensive presence helped Houston break a three-game losing streak on Wednesday in Dallas.

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Rockets keeping Mason Jones, assigning Kevin Porter Jr. to G League

With the 2020-21 NBA G League season starting next weekend, the Rockets are assigning Kevin Porter Jr., Brodric Thomas, and KJ Martin.

With the NBA G League’s abbreviated “bubble” season set to begin in early February, the Houston Rockets are assigning Kevin Porter Jr., Brodric Thomas, and KJ Martin to their Rio Grande Valley affiliate.

Because the 2020-21 G League campaign is taking place at a “bubble” complex in Florida, participants are required to arrive early to ensure that they are negative for COVID-19 prior to engaging in any group activities. This is similar to the NBA’s entry protocols for its 2020 “bubble,” which was also held at various Disney World complexes.

For the Rockets, Porter is the highest-profile player who was assigned to the Vipers. As an NBA rookie last season with the Cavaliers, Porter averaged 10.0 points in 23.2 minutes per game. However, his 2020-21 activities have been extremely limited due to a myriad of personal issues.

Since trading for Porter a week ago, Houston head coach Stephen Silas has stressed the importance of a slow reintegration plan, and it appears that time in the G League could be a part of that process.

Similarly, Thomas and Martin are understandable additions, since both are rookies and neither appears close to cracking Silas’ rotation.

On the other hand, rookie guard Mason Jones — who has shown flashes of very solid play for the Rockets — is not being assigned to the G League. That would seem to signal that Silas anticipates potentially needing Jones to play at the NBA level during the weeks ahead.

Starting Feb. 10, the Vipers will play 15 games at the G League bubble over the ensuing four weeks. The top eight teams from the 18 squads who are participating in the 2020-21 regular season will then advance to a single-elimination playoff, which is set to begin March 8.

From there, the NBA G League Final will take place on March 11.

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Twitter reacts to KJ Martin Jr.’s epic block on Boban Marjanović

Houston rookie KJ Martin Jr. sent back a dunk attempt from enormous center Boban Marjanović of the Mavs, and Twitter went crazy.

At 7-foot-4, Dallas Mavericks center Boban Marjanović is nearly a foot taller than 6-foot-6 forward KJ Martin Jr. of the Houston Rockets.

But the 20-year-old rookie has tremendous instincts and athleticism, as we saw in Saturday night’s blowout win by the Rockets when he sent back a dunk attempt by the enormous Dallas center.

The joyous television call by Houston broadcaster Craig Ackerman summed it up well: “KJ Martin climbed Boban Mountain!” It was the most promising NBA moment yet for the second-round pick (No. 52 overall) in the 2020 draft, which Houston acquired from Sacramento via trade.

Martin is the son of Kenyon Martin, a 15-year NBA veteran and the No. 1 overall selection from the 2000 NBA draft.

With the short-handed Rockets missing three usual starters in Victor Oladipo, Christian Wood, and Danuel House Jr., Martin was thrust into action and fared quite well with 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots. Houston was +14 in the 20 minutes played by the rookie.

Of those three blocks, the one on Marjanović clearly attracted the most attention. Here’s a sampling of the immediate social media reaction.

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Rockets at Spurs: Lineups, injury reports, and broadcast info for Saturday

John Wall and Danuel House are out, Eric Gordon is questionable, and DeMarcus Cousins is doubtful. Recent trade acquisitions are uncertain.

The Houston Rockets had an inspiring victory in San Antonio on Thursday night, in large part due to overcoming the odds with an extremely shorthanded roster featuring only nine active players. Christian Wood led the way with 27 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots.

Two days later, they might be asked to do it all over again.

As of late Friday, the Rockets did not know if any reinforcements would arrive in time for Saturday’s rematch with the Spurs at AT&T Center. The NBA is conducting these mini-series during the 2020-21 regular season to minimize travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rotation fixtures John Wall (sore left knee) and Danuel House Jr. (health and safety protocols) are again listed as out, while Eric Gordon (left lower leg tightness) is questionable. Gordon was also initially listed as questionable for Thursday before sitting out. DeMarcus Cousins is new to Houston’s injury report with right ankle soreness, and he’s doubtful.

Here’s when you should tune in to see Saturday’s game:

  • Date: Saturday, Jan. 16
  • Time: 4:00 p.m. Central
  • TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet Southwest
  • Live stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)

Probable starting lineups

Houston Rockets (4-6)

  • Guard: Sterling Brown
  • Guard: Ben McLemore
  • Forward: Jae’Sean Tate
  • Forward: PJ Tucker
  • Center: Christian Wood

San Antonio Spurs (6-6)

  • Guard: Dejounte Murray
  • Guard: Lonnie Walker IV
  • Forward: Keldon Johnson
  • Forward: DeMar DeRozan
  • Center: LaMarcus Aldridge

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Of Houston’s three newly acquired players connected to the blockbuster James Harden trade, Dante Exum is likely unavailable until March with a calf strain. That leaves guard Victor Oladipo from Indiana and forward Rodions Kurucs from Brooklyn. Oladipo, however, had yet to be formally traded as of late Friday, since the Rockets are flipping Caris LeVert (who they acquired from the Nets in the Harden deal) to Indiana for Oladipo.

Before that separate transaction can be processed, all players in the initial trade have to complete their physicals, and it’s unclear whether that will happen in time for an afternoon game on Saturday.

Should the new acquisitions not be cleared, Houston could be down to the NBA’s minimum of eight active players. Rookie reserves Mason Jones and KJ Martin Jr., who each impressed on Thursday in their first game as a rotation player, may need to play even more minutes Saturday.

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Rockets reaction: Christian Wood, Sterling Brown, Jae’Sean Tate lead ‘special win’ at Spurs

On the same day as the James Harden trade and with four expected rotation players out, Houston rallied late to win at San Antonio.

In a feel-good victory following a chaotic two days, the undermanned Rockets finished Thursday’s game on a 19-6 run to defeat the host San Antonio Spurs, 109-105 (box score). It was the first road win of the 2020-21 season for Houston and new head coach Stephen Silas.

Superstar guard James Harden was officially traded earlier in the day, and new acquisitions Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum, and Rodions Kurucs haven’t yet had time to complete physicals and join the team. The Rockets had only nine active players, with rotation fixtures John Wall (sore left knee), Eric Gordon (lower left leg tightness), Danuel House Jr. (health and safety protocols) all sidelined, as well.

Nonetheless, the shorthanded Rockets (4-6) still found a way to shake off a two-game losing streak and defeat the Spurs (6-6), who entered having won four of five games. Big man Christian Wood led Houston with 27 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks, and he made 5-of-7 (71.4%) from behind the 3-point arc. Sterling Brown started for Wall and had 23 points (52.9% FG) and 7 rebounds, while rookie forward Jae’Sean Tate had the first double-double of his career with 13 points and 10 assists.

With Houston severely short on options, rookies Mason Jones and KJ Martin combined for 15 points off the bench on 7-of-13 shooting (53.8%). For both players, it was their first NBA action as rotation players.

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Meanwhile, strong defense by veteran forward PJ Tucker helped limit San Antonio’s leading scorer on the season, DeMar DeRozan, to just 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting (35.7%). With Tucker forcing him into a contested fadeaway, DeRozan missed a shot in the final seconds that could have tied the game. Tucker then made both free throws after securing the rebound, which iced the game and provided the final margin.

Here’s a sampling of Thursday’s postgame reaction from a joyous Houston locker room. The Rockets and Spurs will meet again on the same AT&T Center court on Saturday afternoon for an immediate rematch.

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Ben McLemore, KJ Martin Jr. cleared from COVID-19 protocols, per Rockets

Both McLemore and Martin reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 in the days leading up to Houston’s originally scheduled Dec. 23 opener.

Reserve guard Ben McLemore and rookie forward KJ Martin Jr. are each back with the Rockets and available to play as soon as Monday, according to Sunday’s update by head coach Stephen Silas.

Each player reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 in the days leading up to Houston’s originally scheduled regular-season opener on Dec. 23, which was postponed due to the roster being ravaged by COVID issues.

Per the NBA’s health and safety protocols, these were the steps that had to be completed before either player could rejoin the team:

  • At least 12 days have passed since his first positive test, or the conclusion of any symptoms, whichever comes later;
  • The player is asymptomatic, and there are no clinical concerns about reinfection;
  • A team-designated physician has cleared the player to return;
  • The team doctor has reviewed the case with a league doctor, who does not object to the findings.

Both players have been listed as “Not With Team, Self-Isolating” on Houston’s official injury reports, which are distributed by the NBA.

As a 19-year-old rookie, Martin isn’t expected to have a rotation role with the Rockets (2-2) this season. McLemore, however, certainly could. The 27-year-old averaged 10.1 points last season in 22.8 minutes per game off the bench, and his 40.0% clip on 3-pointers led the team.

Silas said after Sunday’s Rockets practice from Toyota Center that it could take each player “a little while” to get reacclimated to the team after missing nearly two weeks of activity. Reading between the lines, that suggests that McLemore might not rejoin the rotation immediately.

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John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins frustrated by NBA’s quarantine ruling

After missing a week despite testing negative for COVID-19, the former All-Stars didn’t hide their displeasure with the situation.

Former All-Stars John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins returned to the Houston Rockets at Wednesday’s practice, which will allow them to finally make their 2020-21 season debuts on Thursday versus Sacramento.

They had hoped, of course, to be with the Rockets when the regular season began last week. However, the NBA league office subjected them to a seven-day quarantine after finding that they had been in close proximity to teammate KJ Martin Jr. during a haircut session. Martin, as it was later discovered, was positive for COVID-19 at the time.

That seven-day absence caused Wall and Cousins to miss Houston’s initial two games, both losses. But as of Wednesday, their quarantine was completed, and they’re back with the team moving forward.

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Nonetheless, it clearly made for a frustrating ordeal, especially since each player repeatedly tested negative throughout the process. Here’s what both had to say about the subject after Wednesday’s practice.

John Wall:

I was mad. I ain’t gonna cap, I was hot. …

I didn’t do anything wrong. All I did was get a haircut in my apartment. One of my teammates tested positive the next day. The next four or five tests I had all came back negative.

It was me and three people getting a haircut. Like, I can’t get a haircut? I’d rather cut it in my apartment than be in a barbershop somewhere, where random people are coming in constantly. Even the barber tested negative. That was the frustrating thing… I was getting ready for shootaround and had just worked out, and they came out here and got me and said, ‘You’ve got to get off the court, you’ve got to go home for seven days of quarantine.’ I’m like, ‘What?’

DeMarcus Cousins, with initial sarcasm:

Oh, I was excited. I loved it. I had a blast at home. [laughs]

I think y’all saw my tweet, so we’ll leave it at that. …

It was tough. It’s tough in general, to be sitting around for seven days. No type of activity, just in quarantine. It’s tough for any person, but especially a professional athlete. Sitting at home for seven days straight, then jumping back into a full-speed practice or game… there’s not a lot of positive things on that side. Like I said [on Twitter], maneuver through the BS, and make the best of what you can.

With Wall and Cousins both expected to play, the Rockets return to action on Thursday night for their first home game of the 2020-21 regular season. Tipoff between the Rockets (0-2) and Kings (3-1) is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Central from Toyota Center, with the game televised on AT&T SportsNet Southwest throughout usual Houston markets.

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Reports: Test result by KJ Martin Jr. led to Rockets’ contact tracing losses

The Houston Rockets are reportedly without John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Jae’Sean Tate due to being in close contact with KJ Martin Jr.

An apparent positive COVID-19 test result for rookie forward KJ Martin Jr. could cause the Houston Rockets to be without several players in Wednesday night’s regular-season opener due to contact tracing.

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon, veteran guard John Wall, center DeMarcus Cousins, and rookie forward Jae’Sean Tate were deemed to be close contacts of Martin after getting haircuts together. As of Wednesday afternoon, the Rockets were doing a second round of testing on Martin to confirm the initial result.

Houston was already without reserve guard Ben McLemore due to a separate positive test result, and they could potentially be missing All-Star guard James Harden due to a reported protocol breach. The Rockets entered Wednesday with 15 healthy players on their roster, but if Harden isn’t allowed by the NBA to play, they could be without six members of their expected team (McLemore, Martin, Harden, Wall, Cousins, Tate). That would leave the Rockets with just nine available players, which would be just about the minimum requirement of eight active players.

If Martin’s test result is confirmed, the Rockets aren’t far from a point at which the opening game could be in jeopardy due to a lack of players. While both Wall and Cousins tested negative for COVID-19, per Woj. they may still be ineligible to play for several days under the league’s new safety protocols due to the potential incubation period of the virus.

As of early Wednesday afternoon, neither the team nor the league had issued a public statement on the ongoing situation. Tipoff is currently scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Central from Toyota Center.

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