Kenyon Martin Sr. Critical of the Rockets Processes, Approach to Winning, and Culture

Just looking at the situation, KJ closed 2020-2021 really strong, with the last 14 games having 8 starts and an average MPG of 34 per game. Obviously it was full tank mode, but I'm sure it still stings to seemingly fight so hard and show massive improvement, and then have the team go out and sign two guys to your position(s) in Theis and Nwaba, and draft two more 19-year olds in Garuba and Sengun. From the viewpoint of trying to maximize tradeable/moveable assets in a lost year, it makes sense. If I was in both KJ and Kenyon's shoes though, I can imagine it would feel pretty crappy.

And it really doesn't get any better, considering arguably the only player in the top 5 that doesn't completely block him again from getting minutes is Jaden Ivey, who would probably still just play out of position in a 3-guard lineup next to KPJ and JG.

It's a little inappropriate to treat this next year as the last one on his deal when he actually has two more, but I do agree with Clutch that it might be a choice between retaining either Tate or KJ going forward. Tate absolutely seems like the the locker room leader, so I can't imagine that it's easy for a 21-year old to basically have to come into work every day and think; they should fire our team leader whom everyone likes and give me his job and money. That's a heck of a lot easier for your father to say from the stands, rather than you putting that out there to management.

Last thing I'd say is that it's easier to stand out as a role player on a good team with a strong leadership hierarchy, because you get to limit your skillset to best complement a star or a system. Opportunities to play through mistakes might be much more limited, but if you get there, you will get paid, because the contenders are more concerned with continuity, and have limited ways to add outside talent.

Kenyon Sr. just wants to get KJ paid like Taylor Horton Tucker, where your contract is big enough they're forced to play you, rather than have him be on a minimum expiring deal buried on the 2023-2024 roster with EIGHT other first rounders.

 

They are trying to win. But just with the guys they've drafted. This team will win when we have a star and at least one other really good player. That's the only way to do it if you want to contend for a championship without being a destination city.

Otherwise we can all jump on the mediocrity treadmill again and start signing role players to big contracts

 

Disagree with those saying he’d be worse off on a better team.

New Orleans has a really young team. A lot of good teams have young players that come in and make an impact as part of the rotation.

I think kj could get rotation minutes everywhere. His game can mesh with many styles as he doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective.

The rockets need to do everything they can to win next season. Two years in a row being the worse team in the league is enough.

 

Sort of a pointless thing to say though, no? The point of a rebuilding team is first to try and find some cornerstone players. At that point, you move on to winning. With all respect to KJM, he is not a cornerstone player. To me Kenyon is just saying what any dad would say - if his kid is a developing role player he would prefer that his kid is on a team getting notoriety and rings instead of one desperately searching for direction after the owner blew it up. That's shocking.

Now that the Rockets have had 2 years of top picks, it's going to be time to add mentors and leaders to the team with the Wall cap space and move to "improvement" mode instead of "rebuild" mode. Getting rid of that $40M boulder in the pool that the Rockets keep swimming around is going to be a pivotal moment.

 

It's not like he set up a public press conference to say this. He was asked about it specifically on a pod and he gave his opinion. And again, I don't think he said anything out of line or unexpected. He's glad his son gets minutes, but would prefer he was in a winning environment. Wouldn't we all?

 

The order of players that I would be bummed if they are gone in order.

1 Green
2 Sengun
3 Christopher
4 Garuba
5 KJ Martin
6 Tate
7 KPJ
8 Gordon
9 Wood

Hopefully Martin is apart of the winning down the road.

 

It just sounded like a guy that wants his kid on a winning team. I mean he gave examples like the Nets and NO. NO has been rebuilding, it seems like, for ... well... ever, and the Nets was a dysfunctional and possibly underachieving team, but hey, they have stars and made the playoffs.

It sounds more like he just wants his kid in an already-winning environment. I'm more curious to see what things are like next year with the Rockets, because, let's face it, there may be a chance he gets even fewer minutes. Unless they find a way to give everybody 20-30 minutes so their dads aren't pissed, of course. lol.

 

True! Most teams are stacked as his position too

 

*** his Dad.

 

He ain't on the team, he can say whatever he wants.

Player parents aren't a constituency we really need to worry about - take it from Austin:

 

They are not trying to win, when you sit John Wall all year, and you sit guys at the end, they are not trying to win at all.

DD

 

But we don't know that: we don't know that they'll have a lot of growth or that they're setting up a winning culture. I mean, no team that wins back-to-back worst team in the league championships has a winning culture. We do know that not everyone on the team always plays hard.

Hollins would be fired if he spoke his mind. K-Mart is not on the Rockets' payroll.

K-Mart is a KJM fan first and foremost, while we are Rockets fans first and foremost. I think that's the only difference here.

 

Sorry, winning isnt the priority right now.

Come back next offseason.

 

Meh.
Not the first sports parent to overvalue their kid, won't be the last.
Does make you wonder if maybe this is why KMJ skipped around schools so much.

Anyway, he said his piece and it should have absolutely zero bearing on how the Rockets proceed with their rebuild.

 

It's almost like he reads my posts.

 

What if you’re actually Kenyon Martin?!

 

Tate and EGo should have most trade value of your bottom 5.

And Stone needs to trade them.

Wood too if it brings back a starter.

 

He specifically mentioned Brooklyn, Milwaukee, San Antonio, Miami, Phoenix, & New Orleans

4 of the 6 are trying to compete for a championship and have no room for him in their rotation

As for the other two, Popovich hardly even plays Primo and he was the 12th pick. Ain't no way KJ gets any real playing time with the Spurs. New Orleans are still developing young guys and are further along than us, but I think we will catch up and even surpass them soon if we nail this and next years draft picks