Kenyon Martin

Kenyon Lee Martin (born December 30, 1977 in
Saginaw, Michigan|Saginaw, Michigan) is an NBA
basketball player for the Denver Nuggets, playing
at the power forward (basketball)|power forward
position.  He is noted for his excellent defensive
and rebounding skills, as well as his intensity
and aggressive dunking. 

Martin was an outstanding player in college,
playing for the University of
Cincinnati|Cincinnati Bearcats.  As a senior, he
averaged 18.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.5 blocks
per game and was the consensus National Player of
the Year, earning numerous awards from various
organizations.    After his senior year, the
University of Cincinnati retired his #4 jersey on
April 25, 2000.  Later that year, he was selected
first overall in the 2000 NBA Draft by the New
Jersey Nets. Martin is both the last college
senior and last American-born collegian to date to
be the top overall pick; the five top picks since
him consist of three high school players (Kwame
Brown, LeBron James, Dwight Howard), one
international player with two years of U.S.
college experience (Andrew Bogut), and one
international player with no college experience
(Yao Ming).

As a rookie, Martin averaged 12 points, 7.4
rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game and was named to
the NBA All-Rookie First Team.  Then next year,
Martin averaged 14.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3
steals and 1.7 blocks per game in helping the Nets
to a winning record.  Along with Nets stars Jason
Kidd and Richard Jefferson, Martin led the Nets to
the 2002 NBA Finals, where they were swept by the
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal-led Los Angeles
Lakers.  In his third season Martin again helped
his team into the NBA Finals, where the Nets lost
4 games to 2 against the Tim Duncan-led San
Antonio Spurs.  The next year, Martin averaged
16.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks en route
to his first NBA All-Star selection, as a backup
forward for the Eastern Conference All-Stars.  In
the 2004 NBA All-Star Game, Martin scored 17
points, grabbed 7 rebounds and had 3 assists.

At the end of the 2003-04 season, Martin was
signed by the Nets to a $93 million, 7-year
contract, then traded to the Nuggets for three 1st
round draft picks. 

Martin is married with three children, sons Kenyon
Jr. and Kameron, and daughter Cierra Reign.  In
his free time he enjoys watching movies and
playing video games. Martin's half brother,
Richard Roby is a Sophomore guard for Colorado
University.