RE: Martin

[Zahid Siddiqi]

I apologize in advance for this lengthy post.
 
It is important to place NCAA D1 basketball in context with the NBA.  This is the most credible example I am aware of.  My friend's father, Gary Shaffer, is a retired boys HS basketball coach, one of only five coaches in Ohio HS history to win 500+ games in his career, who played at West Virginia University in the early/mid 1960s.  At that time, there was a first team All American on his team; his name now escapes my memory.  He was invited to try out for an NBA team (Lakers?) after his senior season.  As I understand the story, his tryout consisted of playing a member of the franchise staff (GM?), who was a retired NBA player, in a game of one-on-one.  The college All American was unable to score in that game, losing 11-0.  
 
So, a first team All American, theoretically one of the five best players in college, was unable to score on a retired NBA player.  You are all probably waiting for my point.  The difference in the level of competition between college and the NBA is vast.  Keep that in mind when considering the relatively small drop in Martin's statistics between college and the NBA.  Also bear in mind the relative success the teams on which Martin has played in the NBA both before, during and after his tenure with those teams.  When examining these facts, one cannot reasonably conclude Martin has been a bust.  To say so is neither based in fact nor on reason.
 
I respectfully disagree with anyone who believes Martin to be an NBA bust.


Zahid H. Siddiqi
Attorney at Law
58 East High St., Ste. B
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