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Kenyon Martin News & Rumors

Reggie Evans, Kenyon Martin are double trouble for Clippers' foes
February 11
Los Angeles Times
 
"They are a special duo in their own right. Reggie Evans and Kenyon Martin did all the little things that helped the Clippers defeat the Philadelphia 76ers, 78-77, Friday night. Evans had 10 rebounds, half of them offensive. He didn't score, but he played with energy and hustled throughout his 19 minutes. Martin had seven rebounds, one blocked shot and three points, and he played good defense at power forward and when he was switched over to small forward. "That's what we've got to bring, man," Martin said. "We're two grown men out here, and that's what we've got to bring." Evans had three offensive rebounds in the fourth. Martin had two of his three rebounds on the offensive end in the"
Kenyon Martin makes solid debut with Clippers
February 9
Los Angeles Times
 
"Power forward Kenyon Martin played in his first game with the Clippers on Wednesday night and his presence was felt right away. He scored, he blocked shots, he rebounded and he was a force. Martin had six points on three-for-seven shooting. He had four rebounds, three offensive, one that turned into a two-handed dunk. He also blocked two shots, all in 20 minutes 12 seconds against the Cleveland Cavaliers."
K-mart to sign with Clippers, meet Nuggets
February 4
Denver Post
 
"Well this could be weird. Imagine the Nuggets, needing a basket late in the game, but being stymied on the defensive end by Kenyon Martin. It could happen. Denver's longtime defensive stopper is going to join the Clippers as a free agent. Denver plays the Clippers in L.A. on Feb. 22 and at home April 18. The Martin signing is an important one for the Clippers as they try to establish themselves in unlikely territory — among the top teams in the Western Conference. The longtime Nuggets power forward returned from playing in China and chose the Clippers and close friend Chauncey Billups, a former teammate with Denver. The Nuggets weren't in contention to re-sign the unrestricted free agent."
Clippers sign Kenyon Martin to one-year deal
February 4
Los Angeles Times
 
"The first call Kenyon Martin received came from former Denver Nuggets teammate Chauncey Billups, telling the 6-foot-9 power forward that the Clippers would be a nice fit. Then Clippers All-Star Chris Paul called Martin, reiterating that the Clippers would love to have his services. This all came around the same time Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro and vice president of basketball operations Neil Olshey had met with Martin to express the team's interest. Martin apparently was sold, because on Friday he signed a one-year, mini mid-level contract for $2.5 million to play for the Clippers. Del Negro said Martin will provide the Clippers with quality depth in the frontcourt off the bench to help"
China fighting decision to let Martin return to NBA
February 3
Yahoo! Sports
 
"Chinese Basketball Association officials are fighting FIBA's decision to allow Kenyon Martin to immediately return to the NBA, demanding that Martin be forbidden to play until later this month, sources told Yahoo! Sports. China has forwarded an affidavit to FIBA and the NBA – signed by Martin upon his departure in late December – that stipulates he wouldn't play in the NBA until his Xinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers' season had ended. China is demanding the contract be honored and Martin have to wait until the Flying Tigers finish their season. The Flying Tigers have six games left and need a winning streak to catapult them into the playoffs. Their final regular-season game is Feb. 16.."
Hawks notes: team has interest in Kenyon Martin
February 3
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"The Hawks met Thursday with a representative of Kenyon Martin, according to a person with knowledge of the team's thinking. The 11-year veteran center is playing in China and can return to the NBA following the season in several weeks."
Sources: Clippers are willing to offer Kenyon Martin mini mid-level exception of $2.5 million
February 2
Los Angeles Times
 
"Count the Clippers as one of the many teams still trying to get free-agent power forward Kenyon Martin, according to two people not authorized to speak publicly on the situation. Martin recently met with Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro and Neil Olshey, the team's vice president of basketball operations, to gauge his interest in playing for the team, both people said. The Clippers would be willing to offer Martin the mini mid-level exception of $2.5 million, though they haven't made him an offer yet, one person said."
Kenyon Martin deciding which contender to join
February 1
Yahoo! Sports
 
"Kenyon Martin is expected to decide by this weekend which NBA team he'll join, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks have expressed interest in signing the veteran forward. Martin signed with Xinjiang Gyang Hui of the Chinese Basketball Association, but has since returned to the United States. He's not eligible to sign with an NBA team until Xinjiang's season ends, which could be as soon as Feb. 16."
Source: Former Nugget Kenyon Martin leaving China
December 22
Denver Post
 
"Kenyon Martin is coming home. The former Nuggets forward has agreed to a buyout from his Chinese team and Martin will become an unrestricted free agent, a NBA source confirmed. K-Mart had been playing for Xinjiang in China but because of the buyout can sign with any NBA team. The regular season begins on Dec. 25, but it's unclear when Martin will be back in the U.S. But another source said Martin cannot sign with an NBA team until after his Chinese team's season ends."
Source: Former Nugget Kenyon Martin leaving China
December 21
Denver Post
 
"Kenyon Martin? is coming home. The former Nuggets forward has agreed to a buyout from his Chinese team and Martin will become an unrestricted free agent, a NBA source confirmed. K-Mart had been playing for Xinjiang in China but because of the buyout can sign with any NBA team. The regular season begins on Dec. 25, but it's unclear when Martin will be back in the U.S."
K-Mart heading back to NBA?
December 19
ESPN.com
 
"The Xinjiang Flying Tigers in China are giving strong consideration to releasing star forward Kenyon Martin, according to sources close to the situation. If Xinjiang goes through with the move, it would be the test case for established NBA players who signed in China during the lockout to possibly return to the NBA sooner than expected. Sources told ESPN.com that only the threat of serious sanctions from Chinese league officials for releasing a player of Martin's stature in-season, including the potential forfeiture of games, has stopped Xinjiang from making the move already."
What's the latest with Nene and Kenyon Martin?
November 30
Denver Post
 
"For the past few years, Nene and Kenyon Martin have made up the Nuggets starting front court – and there's a possibility that neither will be on the Nuggets when this season begins. Kenyon Martin's agent, Andy Miller, confirmed today that Martin will continue to play out his contract in China, a contract that did not have an out-clause. Martin is an unrestricted free agent, so he might not have been back anyway. He can return to the NBA when his China team finished the season, likely in March. Meanwhile, when free agency does begin on Dec. 9, it's arguable that Nene will be the best player available. The longtime Nuggets post opted out of the last year of his contract ($11.6 million),"
China could block NBA players return
November 29
Yahoo! Sports
 
"The Chinese Basketball Association is showing no inclination to let unhappy NBA players out of their contracts for the 2011-12 season, and will likely mandate they not receive clearance letters to return to the NBA until the Chinese season ends in March, sources told Yahoo! Sports. Wilson Chandler(notes), Kenyon Martin(notes), J.R. Smith(notes) and Aaron Brooks(notes) are the four top NBA players under contract in China, and several sources involved in those contract entanglements said escape clauses won't be allowed with the impending end of the NBA lockout. The Chinese Basketball Association passed a rule that its teams could sign only NBA free agents during the lockout, and it was made"
NBA's loss has become China's gain
October 9
Denver Post
 
"Carrie Xu is used to rooting against the Nuggets. She's a Los Angeles Lakers fan, after all. And this season, she'll continue to root against the Nuggets. She's a Shanghai Sharks fan, after all. And three Nuggets of this past season are on rival teams in the Chinese Basketball Association — Kenyon Martin now plays for Xinjiang Gyang Hui, while Wilson Chandler and J.R. Smith play for Zhejiang Guangsha. "I'm sad about the lockout and about the current status of the lockout," said Xu, a former Nike employee who blogs for chinasportsbiz.com. "But I'm happy for the Chinese basketball fans, who can enjoy such great players." No opt-out clauses There should be some great ball in China this"
Nuggets' Kenyon Martin to sign largest contract in Chinese league's history
September 22
Denver Post
 
"Longtime Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin will sign a contract to play with Xingiang Guanghui in the Chinese Basketball Association. Martin's contract will be the the biggest in CBA history. "It's a great opportunity for him to stay in shape and stay fresh," said Andy Miller, Martin's agent. "And it also gives him an opportunity to expand his name globally.""
Nuggets' Kenyon Martin may play in China
September 11
Denver Post
 
"A third free agent who played for the Nuggets last season is in serious talks to play in China. Kenyon Martin has received significant interest from two professional teams in the Chinese Basketball Association, which would make him the highest-paid player in the history of that league, a source said Friday. The 17-team CBA will not allow players to opt out of contracts should the NBA season begin before the Chinese season ends. The NBA is currently in a labor lockout."
Kenyon Martin chooses Andy Miller to be his new agent
September 6
Denver Post
 
"Longtime Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin has chosen a new agent – now we'll see if he chooses a new team. The unrestricted free agent has hired Andy Miller, who also represents former Nuggets all-star Chauncey Billups. Martin is seeking what could be the last big contract of his career – the 2010-11 season was the last on Martin's seven-year, $90-plus million deal with Denver. He turns 34 in December, but coaches across the league annually gush about Martin's ability to quarterback a defense. Last season, Martin averaged 8.6 points per game and 6.2 rebounds in what might have been his final season in powder blue."
K-Mart too old for new Nuggets
June 9
Denver Post
 columnist Mark Kiszla
"At 33 years old, forward Kenyon Martin is no longer age appropriate for the Nuggets, who wear baby blue for a reason. K-Mart, guilty of being born in the 1970s, can probably kiss Denver goodbye. And is it time for Nuggets fans to say hello to either Kenneth Faried or Klay Thompson, both 21-year-old draft prospects? Seeing as Josh Kroenke recently celebrated his 31st birthday, it's hard for our local NBA team to field a starting lineup in which every player is younger than the team president. But the Nuggets are trying. Whenever labor peace allows the Nuggets back on the court to begin next season, nobody should be shocked if this is the starting five: PG: Ty Lawson (age: 23) SG: Arron"
Kenyon Martin: Winning is more important than starting
April 29
Denver Post
 
"Kenyon Martin wants to sign with a winner. Whether he'll re-sign with the Nuggets remains to be seen. Martin, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, said this afternoon that playing for a winner was more important than finding a starting role. "At this point in my career, I think winning and being part of a winning team is more important than starting," Martin said. Martin was asked if the Nuggets could fit that role of a winning franchise. "Winning? Yeah," he said after the players cleaned out their lockers at Pepsi Center. "But we'll see (about signing)." Martin said there wasn't an offer "on the table right now.""
Martin becomes Captain Intensity as Nuggets face 2-game deficit
April 23
Denver Post
 
"In Oklahoma City, Thunder is a noun. In Denver, Kenyon Martin turned it into a verb. The veteran thundered his opinions Friday about the Nuggets, who are down two games to Oklahoma City in their first-round playoff series heading into tonight's Game 3. "We're all right. I'm telling you, we're all right," Martin said in a strong, serious tone. "I'm the captain of this team - we're all right." A day before, teammate J.R. Smith said the Nuggets "didn't have a pulse" during a team meeting. On Friday, Smith said, "Everybody's on the same page." It seems a night of rest lifted the mood around the Nuggets for what is all but a must-win scenario. If the Nuggets go down 3-0, they will need to win"
Nuggets' Martin steps into role of leadership
April 3
Denver Post
 
"Kenyon Martin is the type of competitor who, perturbed by a controversial Scrabble move, would push you to the ground and bark: "ZIPPY isn't a word!" It is this unwavering passion that has fueled the Nuggets since the big Carmelo Anthony trade. "From the very beginning, he believed in this team maybe as much as I did," Nuggets coach George Karl said. The scene remains in the minds of many Nuggets: On the day of the Feb. 21 trade with New York, some guys watched ESPN in the locker room, when a commentator said the Nuggets would be the "Cavaliers of the Western Conference," after trading Anthony and Chauncey Billups. "That's just a slap in my face. I take it personally," said Martin,"
Williams gets start as Kenyon Martin rests his knee
January 7
Denver Post
 
"On Wednesday night, Shelden Williams didn't even play. On Thursday night, he started. Such is life for the Nuggets' reserve big man. The team is slowly bringing along Kenyon Martin since the starter returned from knee rehab, so they're resting him in the second game of back-to-backs. In an ongoing effort not to rattle the rotation, coach George Karl inserted Williams into the starting lineup. "I think guys who sometimes don't play, it's easier to play them as a starter because they know their minutes," Karl said. "Shelden has been very good with us using him in that manner, and he's played well at times." Heading into Thursday, there was uncertainty as to whether J.R. Smith (toe) and Ty"
K-Mart a game-day decision
December 22
Denver Post
 
"The Nuggets play the hottest team in the Western Conference tonight and still won't know if their defensive star will play until today. Forward Kenyon Martin, out all season from offseason knee surgery, practiced again Tuesday and sounded optimistic. "It feels great," Martin said. "I didn't have any problems. It's about the same." Will he play? "I didn't say that," he said. "We'll see (today)." The Nuggets visit the San Antonio Spurs, who sport the best record in the NBA at 24-3, including a nine-game win streak that tops the conference. Nuggets coach George Karl has been getting along fine without Martin, not to mention point guard Chauncey Billups (wrist) and backup center-forward Chris"
Nuggets' Billups, K-Mart, Birdman return Wednesday vs. Spurs
December 21
Denver Post
 
"Nuggets coach George Karl may soon have the full use of his roster for the first time all season. Karl said Monday that Chauncey Billups, Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen should be back from injury in time to play against San Antonio on Wednesday. All three practiced Monday, though at varying degrees of intensity. "Our team's very confident that we can be really good, but I don't know if we can be really good until we get everybody out there," Karl said after practice. The big question mark remains Martin, a veteran forward who hasn't played this season while recovering from offseason knee surgery. He participated in the majority of practice Monday. "That'd be the best gift for me, to be"
Nuggets' K-Mart may debut Wednesday
December 19
Denver Post
 
"The Nuggets were without three key rotation players Saturday night. But all three could play in Denver's next game Wednesday at San Antonio - notably veteran forward Kenyon Martin, who has been out all season. "I think everybody has a chance," Denver coach George Karl said of Chauncey Billups (wrist), Chris Andersen (back) and Martin, who has battled back after knee surgery during the summer. This month, Martin suggested that his ideal return would be the Christmas game at Oklahoma City. But Karl said it's possible that Denver's best defensive player could return for the road game against the Spurs. "Bird (Andersen) and Kenyon are little less (likely) than Chauncey," Karl said. "I think"
All we want for Xmas is Martin back
December 5
Denver Post
 
"Will he be home for Christmas (or, actually, on the road at Oklahoma City)? Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin, who has worked diligently to return from offseason surgery on his left knee, was asked if he could return to play by Dec. 25, when Denver plays the Thunder. "That would be ideally the situation, but I'm not putting all my eggs in one basket for that day," Martin said Saturday. "If I'm not ready, I'm not ready." Martin has begun shooting and running. "A lot of running, so when I do start doing other stuff, it will be a breeze," the power forward said. "I'm just trying to do as much running as I can tolerate, and it's going pretty well - I haven't run since before June. I attacked it."
All Denver wants for Xmas is K-Mart back
December 5
Denver Post
 
"Will he be home for Christmas (or, actually, on the road at Oklahoma City)? Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin, who has worked diligently to return from offseason surgery on his left knee, was asked if he could return to play by Dec. 25, when Denver plays the Thunder. "That would be ideally the situation, but I'm not putting all my eggs in one basket for that day," Martin said Saturday. "If I'm not ready, I'm not ready." Martin has begun shooting and running. "A lot of running, so when I do start doing other stuff, it will be a breeze," the power forward said. "I'm just trying to do as much running as I can tolerate, and it's going pretty well — I haven't run since before June. I attacked it. ."
K-Mart still undergoing treatment for knee injury
October 3
Denver Post
 
"Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin is still undergoing treatment for a knee injury, and cannot play. This is not a situation where he's healthy or soon will be and is simply refusing to play for the Nuggets. He will play when he's cleared. He just won't rush the process. There was confusion with that, which is the responsibility of the writer – in this case, me – to be more clear. Martin expressed frustration with not getting a contract extension offer and will not rush his rehab as a result. Nothing more than that."
Kenyon Martin: No contract, no hurry
October 1
Denver Post
 
"Kenyon Martin is reading the tea leaves. They are telling him this is probably his last year with the Nuggets. If that's the case, he says he can deal with it. It's just that he would have liked the organization to show him the respect of at least offering another contract. But the Nuggets haven't. And Martin, who will make roughly $16.5 million in the last year of a seven-year, $90 million deal, isn't taking the snub lightly. "I feel me being here and what I've done for this (team) . . . (an offer) would have at least been extended, and it wasn't," Martin said Thursday. "I don't know who made that decision, but the decision was made. And I ain't happy. They know it. Everybody knows it.""
Nuggets' big men Harrington, Martin and Anderson all limited during camp
September 28
AOL Fanhouse
 (scroll down)
"Nuggets forward Al Harrington said he has plantar fasciitis in his foot and will be a "little limited'' to start camp. Harrington hopes to be ready for Denver's Oct. 8 preseason opener against Portland. As for the other hurting Denver big men, the news is not as good. Forward Kenyon Martin, who underwent surgery on his left knee early in the summer, said he figures to still be out a "few months'' more. "It's all up to Dr. (Richard) Steadman,'' Martin said of the Vail, Colo., doctor that performed the surgery. "Whenever (Steadman) tells me, 'Kenyon, go play,' that's what Kenyon's going to do.''"
Nuggets' Martin spending summer mending knee
July 7
Denver Post
 
"Kenyon Martin's summer plans are not luxurious, exotic or particularly enviable. The Nuggets forward has one item that tops his summer agenda: Mend his knee. Martin had surgery this summer on his left knee, the same knee that bothered him near the end of the regular season, forcing him to miss 21 games. Now he's working to get it back to full strength. "Rehab, man. That's my No. 1 priority, to get my knee better," Martin said Tuesday during a break at his Camp for Kids. "I've got no other plans." Wearing a sturdy brace and walking gingerly around the courts at the Snowmass Recreation Center, the 32-year-old Martin is hosting the Hoops for Kids basketball camp, which is a mix of inner-city"
Nuggets' Martin spending summer mending knee
July 7
Denver Post
 
"Kenyon Martin's summer plans are not luxurious, exotic or particularly enviable. The Nuggets forward has one item that tops his summer agenda: Mend his knee. Martin had surgery this summer on his left knee, the same knee that bothered him near the end of the regular season, forcing him to miss 21 games. Now he's working to get it back to full strength. "Rehab, man. That's my No. 1 priority, to get my knee better," Martin said Tuesday during a break at his Camp for Kids. "I've got no other plans." Wearing a sturdy brace and walking gingerly around the courts at the Snowmass Recreation Center, the 32-year-old Martin is hosting the Hoops for Kids basketball camp, which is a mix of inner-city"
Nuggets' Martin has knee surgery
June 29
Denver Post
 
"Nuggets power forward Kenyon Martin underwent left knee surgery this summer and an NBA source said, "I don't think he'll be ready for training camp." Martin is the beating heart of the Nuggets defense, and also played some of his best offensive basketball last winter, before injuring his left knee, which led to platelet-rich plasma therapy in March. Martin returned for the postseason and played valiantly on the still-recovering knee, averaging 10.0 points and 8.3 rebounds. Martin's rehab will determine when he can return to the court, most likely in the early months of the 2010-11 season. Martin is rehabbing in different cities this summer, notably Dallas and Aspen, where he's hosting his"
Nuggets' Martin may not be ready for training camp after knee surgery
June 28
Denver Post
 
"Nuggets power forward Kenyon Martin underwent left knee surgery this summer and an NBA source said, "I don't think he'll be ready for training camp." Martin is the beating heart of the Nuggets defense, and also played some of his best offensive basketball last winter, before injuring his left knee, which led to platelet-rich plasma therapy in March. Martin returned for the postseason and played valiantly on the still-recovering knee, averaging 10.0 points and 8.3 rebounds. Martin's rehab will determine when he can return to the court, most likely in the early months of the 2010-11 season. Martin is rehabbing in different cities this summer, notably Dallas and Aspen, where he's hosting his"
Nuggets' Martin still having knee pain
April 26
Denver Post
 
"It's called PRP therapy. And everyone's doing it. Kenyon Martin, Andrei Kirilenko, Hines Ward, Tiger Woods. The revolutionary therapy that helps the body heal has put the Nuggets' Martin (knee) on the floor in the playoff series against the Jazz — and has Kirilenko (calf) optimistic he can return sometime during the postseason. But the fact is, it's not an automatic healer. It got Martin on the court, but the veteran power forward admitted he is not completely healthy. On Sunday, Martin was valiant in the fourth quarter, scoring nine points, including a jumper and a beautiful and-one to cut the Utah lead, once 20, to seven. He finished with 14 points and nine rebounds, but said he has been"
Martin more worried about playing game than practice
April 17
Denver Post
 
"With his teammates on the court, Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin worked out Friday in a small gym adjacent to the Nuggets' Pepsi Center practice court. He did minimal work on the court, and that will be the plan throughout the playoffs as the training staff works to preserve his troublesome left knee for as long as possible. "You've got to pick one," Martin said. "Do you want me to practice, or do you want me to play? But I got up and down the court just a little bit, just to get ready to play." Added acting coach Adrian Dantley, "We're not going to have him practicing that much on the court, where it can put wear and tear on his knee." Martin returned to game action recently after missing"
Martin's mean streak is a key ingredient
April 16
Denver Post
 columnist Benjamin Hochman
"Apologies to Doubleday, Naismith and others, inventors of fine sports indeed, but couldn't they have jazzed up the position titles a little? First baseman? Yeah, we get it, the man near first base. Center? Yeah, the gentleman standing in the center of the offense. But then there's power forward. Oooh. That's a fun one. That's a position you want to claim when chatting up the ladies at happy hour. It's suggestive. Power forwards are the bad boys, up to no good in the trenches; small forwards are the nice guys, watching from the safety of the perimeter. The upcoming Nuggets-Jazz series features two of the baddest (complimentary, of course) power forwards in the league — Denver's mauling"
Pain from patella tendinitis shuts Kenyon Martin down, hopes to be ready for playoffs
April 14
Denver Post
 
"When the Nuggets left the halftime locker room Tuesday, Kenyon Martin stayed behind – not to get treatment, but simply to harness his emotions. Denver was losing big — and he and the trainers decided he should rest his sore left knee. "It was eating at me," Martin said after the loss to the Suns. "Yeah, man, I want to compete and play, but it was the way I was feeling, it was for precautionary reasons." Now, first things first. Martin is confident that with enough rest this week – "everything but basketball" – his left knee will be ready for the playoffs."
Nuggets waste Martin's return
April 11
Denver Post
 
"Twenty minutes after the game, Carmelo Anthony was long gone, his locker empty. He had plenty of time to get as far away from the Pepsi Center as he could after being ejected in the fourth quarter. Chauncey Billups usually takes more time, but Saturday night he was quickly dressed and ready to go. Yet he stood for a few moments to explain the odd circumstances that surrounded the Nuggets' latest loss, a 104-85 defeat at the hands of the Spurs. "It was a rough day for us," Billups said. "However you want to put it. They came in and played the way they play. They outhustled us, beat us to offensive rebounds. It was a rough night, period." It was a night that snapped the Nuggets' four-game"
K-Mart may return to Nuggets before playoffs
April 9
Denver Post
 
"Kenyon Martin is "impatiently waiting" to make a return to the court, and the Nuggets forward said "the last three games are a possibility," in reference to Saturday against the Spurs, then Monday against the Grizzlies and Tuesday at the Suns. "I just finished working out today, I'm going to work out Friday and if there's any pain, then no (on playing)," said Martin. "But as of right now, I don't have any pain." Martin has been going close to full speed in workouts, notably against assistant coach Jamahl Mosley. The key, Martin said, is battling fatigue. "I need to get some wind in these lungs," he said, "especially playing on this court (at altitude). It isn't the easiest place to play. I"
Martin, Andersen still hobbled for Nuggets with OKC on Wednesday
April 6
Denver Post
 
"Kenyon Martin (left knee) and Chris Andersen (left ankle) both did limited workouts during Denver's practice today. Andersen will be a game-time decision on Wednesday at Oklahoma City, while Martin remains out, hoping to return before the regular season ends on April 13."
Nuggets' K-Mart, J.R. on speaking terms after prank
April 6
Denver Post
 
"Nuggets team leader Carmelo Anthony said Monday emotions have subsided between teammates Kenyon Martin and J.R. Smith after the duo's April Fools' tomfoolery. "They seem fine to me. Today in practice they were talking, downstairs in the locker room, they were talking. Everything seems fine," Anthony said after Monday's workout. "It was an April Fools' joke. It's now April 5." The stakes are too high in April basketball for the Nuggets to become divided. But Martin did say he refused to accept the apology of Smith's personal driver, Laquan Johnson, after Johnson filled the interior of Martin's new car with popcorn during last Thursday's game. A source had said that Martin played a prank"
April Fool's joke puts Martin in sour mood
April 4
Denver Post
 
"Even Orville Redenbacher never popped off this much. In the Nuggets' locker room on April Fool's Day, Kenyon Martin screamed loudly about a prank played on him by J.R. Smith's personal driver, Laquan Johnson, who filled Martin's car, which has a cream-colored inside, with popcorn. Asked Saturday if he accepted Johnson's apology, Martin said: "Not a chance. Not a chance." After the win over Portland, Martin was in the locker room screaming: "That ain't no . . . joke. I'm going to find out who did it. . . . How 'bout if I don't play in the playoffs until somebody tells me who did it." On Friday, when ESPN.com reported the story, Smith tweeted the link and wrote: "check it out! LMAO" - the"
Martin upset about popcorn prank
April 3
ESPN.com
 
"On a night when the Denver Nuggets should have been celebrating a much-needed victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, the franchise continued to struggle with off-the-court issues when an April Fools' Day joke sparked anything but laughter. During Denver's 109-92 victory Thursday, a former Nuggets ball boy, Laquan Johnson, got into the club's locker room, took Kenyon Martin's car keys and filled the player's Range Rover with buttered popcorn. The car had a white interior. Martin discovered the damage as he was about to exit Denver's Pepsi Center. At the time, he had no idea who had pulled the prank. Angered, he went back to the locker room spewing profanities and threats at teammates and"
Martin eager to play, but knee uncertain
April 2
Denver Post
 
"Fast-paced with the ability to sneak up on you, the calendar might be the Nuggets' toughest opponent. There are now 11 days until the final game of the regular season, and forward Kenyon Martin said Thursday he wants to get in a game before the playoffs — if his left knee is up to the task. But Martin just began running on the court, following his March 8 platelet-rich plasma therapy. Martin admitted "there's always that possibility" he might not be able to return at all this season. "I don't know how it's going to react to running and jumping and playing 35 minutes a night. It takes a toll," Martin said. "And I'm not going to be a guy who is going to play 12 to 14 minutes. If I'm going to"
Martin unsure whether he'll return this season
March 30
Yahoo! Sports
 columnist Marc J. Spears
"Along with wondering if coach George Karl will return for the playoffs, the slumping Denver Nuggets have one other pressing concern: Will Kenyon Martin(notes) take the court again this season? Even as he continues to strengthen his injured left knee with hopes of returning, Martin has also accepted he may have already played his final game. He described his chances of playing in any of the Nuggets' remaining seven regular-season games as "dim." Martin missed his 14th consecutive game Monday when the Dallas Mavericks beat the Nuggets 109-93. He has been undergoing platelet-rich plasma therapy, which involves injecting his blood into his knee to help spur tendon recovery. While Martin says"
Martin making some progress
March 24
Denver Post
 
"Well, it's something. Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin has begun riding a stationary bike while his left knee recovers from his first — and potentially only — dose of platelet-rich plasma therapy, which should ultimately reduce the patella tendinitis that sidelined him. "It was a little bit sore after, but not too much," Martin said of his bike ride, which lasted 20 minutes. "It's progression from where it was. My pain level is not at the same place from where it was, so that's a good thing." Martin decided to come with the team on this five-game trip and said he will "see where my pain level is" early next week, in a meeting with doctors at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail. If the pain"
K-Mart worth the high price tag
March 15
Denver Post
 columnist Chris Dempsey
"So Kenyon Martin's out, and the Nuggets are winning anyway — and fairly easily in a couple of cases. I wouldn't get too comfortable with that. But it does bring up a question I've gotten fond of asking lately. What is the value of defense? "Not $90 million," a friend of mine said. Fair enough. But shouldn't it be fairly high? If you stop a last-second shot as often as say, Kobe Bryant makes a last- second shot, are those two things equal? If you hold elite scorers under their averages night after night and your team wins because of it, is that equal to an elite scorer putting high numbers on the board and his team winning because of it? If defense wins championships, why aren't the players"
Martin could be sidelined for a couple of weeks
March 11
Denver Post
 
"Asked how his first platelet rich plasma therapy session felt on his left knee, Kenyon Martin used an expletive in quite a descriptive way — alas, you won't read it in newsprint. The power forward said Wednesday he isn't sure when his next PRP therapy session will be and said "we'll see how it works," in reference to the first session Monday. The therapy takes place at Vail's Steadman Hawkins Clinic, and it's possible Martin could be out for a couple of weeks. Johan Petro again started for Martin on Wednesday at Minnesota (Petro, Denver's only 7-footer, took the tipoff). Asked what he brings with Martin out, reserve post Chris Andersen deadpanned: "I bring some more injuries. My back and"