Kenyon Martin Plans to Mentor Blake Griffin


The Los Angeles Clippers’ newest addition, Kenyon Martin, says he wants to provide young Blake Griffin and frontcourt teammate DeAndrew Jordan with some much-needed guidance. (Whatever you say, K-Mart.) From the LA Times: “The smile on Kenyon Martin’s face said a lot. Martin had just joined the Clippers for practice Sunday in Orlando — he didn’t take part in the session, however — two days after he signed a contract to play for team. Both Martin and Coach Vinny Del Negro said there is no timetable for him to play in a game, but Martin said he’d like to be in uniform playing before the team finishes a six-game, 10-day trip that continues Monday night against the Orlando Magic. The Clippers won Martin’s services over the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks. ‘The Clippers were a good makeup of a team before I got here,’ Martin said. ‘They were old and young. I’m about winning. I’m about winning basketball games. And I felt the best chance to help was here.’ Martin felt as if he could provide Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan with a veteran’s knowledge of how to be a successful big man. Martin averaged 8.6 points and 6.2 rebounds with the Denver Nuggets last season in 48 games, but he averaged 13.5 points and 7.2 rebounds over his 11-year NBA career in New Jersey and Denver. ‘With my knowledge of the game, I know I can help Blake,” Martin said. ‘I’ve been where Blake is — a whole lot of athleticism and not really knowing how to play. He’s getting it, but I think me being here, being around and talking to him and DeAndre, I think it’s going to help a lot.'”