Theus: Martin can be great

Kevin Martin was doing his best to explain his sizzling start, running through his routine answers that ranged from increased opportunities and hard work to how they were meshing in quite a productive way.

Then Shareef Abdur-Rahim walked by his teammate, stopping to inject his own analysis of Martin's latest outing without being prompted.

"Wasn't that the easiest 32 points you've ever seen?" the Kings forward asked. "At halftime, he had 20, and I didn't remember the 20. Then he had 12 (more) in the third, and I didn't remember those, either."

Martin would finish with a career-high 43 points in the Kings' 123-118, double-overtime win against New York on Friday night at Arco Arena. The performance made Martin second in the league in scoring (28.2 points per game) in what has been one of the early bright spots of a dim Kings season. But it was Martin's 10 rebounds that drew the most praise from some teammates and – more to the point – Kings coach Reggie Theus.

The relationship between Theus and Martin that could be long-lasting is in its infancy. The fourth-year player is growing accustomed to his new role as much more than a surprising star, pleased at his production but far from fulfilled in light of the team's struggles.

The first-year coach is determined to help Martin become much more than a scorer, often harping on Martin's defense or pleading for a more all-around game.

But in a lengthy interview about his shooting guard after Saturday's practice, Theus said his desire to help mold Martin comes with the hope that he can be nothing short of a great player. He referred to Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, all in the context of discussing players who could score but who also found ways to help those around them. The next step in Theus' mind, he said, is for Martin to become more aggressive.

"When you are engaging in that way, when there's an open guy and you've got to get it to them," he said. "Because then you're not only a great teammate, you're helping other guys get better. ... As great as Jerry West and Wilt (Chamberlain) and all those guys were – Karl Malone, John Stockton – all of those players have one thing in common. They all made teammates better."

Yet Theus' tactics can be nothing short of aggressive, and the former New Mexico State coach said he's learning which methods work best with which personalities.

"I'm learning him, and he has to learn me also," Theus said. "I think the guys know that it's not personal, that I just want to get them better. Am I engaging and get in your face? Yeah, but I'm growing, too, here. I have to let that happen naturally.

"I just see so much potential for him to be a great basketball player. Not good, but great."

Even as Martin's role grew in the absence of Mike Bibby and – until recently – Ron Artest, the efficiency has remained. Entering Saturday night, his 17-shot average was the lowest of any of the league's top 10 scorers.

And after setting the Sacramento-era record for free throws made last season (481), Martin already has converted 93 and is on pace to finish with 847, which would break the franchise mark of 800 (Oscar Robertson, 1963-64). Martin leads the league in free-throw attempts per game (12.1) and free throws made per game (10.3).

Martin also has scored 20-plus points in his first nine games this season. It is the longest 20-point scoring streak to start a season since Nate "Tiny" Archibald scored 20-plus points in nine consecutive games to begin the 1972-73 season. The last time a Kings player had 20-plus points in nine consecutive games was Chris Webber, who recorded 13 20-plus-point games in a row in the 2002-03 season.

"If he plays like he did (against the Knicks), then he'll be a first-team (All-NBA) guy," Artest said. "He's not just scoring, not just leaking out (on fast breaks). ... Ten rebounds? Now we're talking about a great player. Now we're talking about an All-Star. Now we're talking about hanging your (retired) jersey up over here (in the Kings' practice facility) if he keeps playing like that."

About the writer:

• Call Sam Amick at (916) 326-5582. Read his blog at www.sacbee.com/blogs.