Clippers Sign Kenyon Martin
Sports — By Bernard Samms on February 4, 2012 at 6:26 pm
February 3, 2012-The Los Angeles Clippers today signed free agent forward Kenyon Martin. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not announced. An 11-year NBA veteran and former NBA All-Star (2004), Martin joins the Clippers after signing with the Xinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association this summer.
“Kenyon is the ultimate competitor and a key acquisition,” stated Vice President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey. “We expect that he will provide additional experience, passion and professionalism, as well as some important depth to our front court.”
Martin, 34, has played in 654 career NBA games with the New Jersey Nets and Denver Nuggets and 89 playoff games. The 6-foot-9, 234 pound forward brings career averages of 13.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 blocks to the Clippers.
The consensus 2000 NCAA Player of the Year after a stellar career at the University of Cincinnati, Martin was drafted by New Jersey with the number one overall pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. Martin was a key member of two Nets teams that made back-to-back appearances in the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.
The Dallas, Texas product enjoyed his best statistical season in 2003-04 with New Jersey when he averaged 16.7 points and 9.7 rebounds and was selected to the All-Star Team.