After officially signing his 10-day contract with the Knicks and practicing for the first time with the team yesterday, Kenyon Martin declared he plans to change the negative perceptions about him. The Knicks could use a change in public opinion right about now, too.
The Knicks are in free fall going into tonight’s home game against the 76ers, having dropped four straight and going 14-15 since their 18-5 start. They have not won at the Garden since Feb. 4.
The 35-year-old Martin agreed to terms Thursday after being out of the NBA this season. The 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward affords the Knicks frontcourt depth with Rasheed Wallace and Marcus Camby still hurting.
Though coach Mike Woodson said it is possible Martin would get minutes tonight, he did not sound convinced.
“I’ve got to still play the guys that know what we’re doing right now because we’re trying to get off this skid,” Woodson said.
Martin arrives with a questionable reputation. He said “people have a misconception about me,” primarily that he is a “hothead.” He also said there is a false belief he is uncoachable (“I do what coaches ask of me”) and dislikes practice (“But who practices really during the season?”).
“But I’m here to change all that,” Martin said. “I’m here to change people’s perceptions about me. And if it’s a 10-day [contract] or if it’s the rest of the season — whatever it is — I’m here to do that. I’m excited for the opportunity to be here.”
Martin recalled a conversation he had with an elderly woman at a function in Denver several years ago when he was a member of the Nuggets.
“Before now, I thought you were [a jerk],” Martin said the woman whispered in his ear. “You’re a great guy.”
Martin said, with pride, the woman’s opinion changed after “like a two-minute conversation with me.”
He acknowledged he doesn’t always say things the proper way, but said he means well.
“That’s my thing: If people get to know me and know who I am and know what I’m about, I love basketball, I love winning, I love competing,” he said. “Does it come out wrong sometimes? Yeah. I’m the first to admit. My timing and tact sometimes is not the best. But are my intentions good? Absolutely.”
The former Net, who was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2000, said he still can do “everything” on the court.
“I lost a couple inches off my vertical probably, that’s about it,” said Martin, who has not played competitive basketball in more than six months. “[I can do] everything else on the basketball court. I’ve always looked at myself as a complete basketball player. I’m not the best shooter, not the best free-throw shooter, not the highest jumper, not the best passer — but I think I do all those things pretty well to help teams win.”
Martin said he told Woodson he would accept any role on the team.
“He just wants me to play hard when I’m in there, which I’m going to do,” Martin said. “You don’t have to coach that with me.”
Asked if he still can be “a warrior,” Martin indicated his chest and said, “Put your hand right there. Let me see if you feel this. What’s that?”
Told it was a heart, Martin said, “That ain’t going nowhere, man. That ain’t going nowhere.”