3) Kenyon Martin
As a number one overall pick, there are always high expectations. Unfortunately, for Kenyon Martin, his draft position resulted in much unwarranted scrutiny about his overall NBA career. Although Martin did not live up to the hype of being the number one overall pick, his energy, athleticism, and versatility allowed him to be a game changing force night in night out. Before Draymond Green, there was Kenyon Martin, as he could legitimately guard every position on the court. He guarded everyone from Jermaine O’Neal to Kobe Bryant.
Although Martin was not a prolific scorer or playmaker, in his best year with the Nets, he averaged 16.7 points, 9.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game, adding value whether or not he touched the ball. Martin was a do-it-all player that affected the game in every way. To top it off, while many people call Chris Paul and Blake Griffin “lob city,” the original “lob city” was Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin.
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