NBA
The Grizzlies have a track record of not playing rookies. And when they picked Jarell Martin in this year’s draft, I didn’t like it. Well, Jarell Martin is playing a big role off the bench for the Grizzlies, and I was dead wrong about the draft pick. He and JaMychal Green are quickly forming chemistry as a frontcourt duo, and though he’s still rough around the edges, it’s been a joy to watch Martin start to get comfortable on the floor during an NBA game.
But. Nobody’s really talked to him that much. I decided to change that, and caught up with Jarell before the Grizzlies’ practice on Thursday. We talked about the D-League, about playing with Vince Carter and Zach Randolph, and about his late discovery of basketball.
KL: So first off, did you think you’d be playing this many minutes this year? Or did you think you were going to be more in the D-League?
JM: I knew that coming in I wasn’t going to be able to play that many minutes, because I did my research and… they don’t play many rookies a lot of playing time usually. It’s just great being out there, being able to be with the team and contribute, and just going out there and playing. It feels great.
KL: This team has a lot of—I won’t say old guys—veteran guys who have been around a long time, like Vince… I know he sees a lot of his role as being a mentor. How has that been, having him around?
JM: Oh, It’s been great. You know, Vince is always coming to me, talking to me during the games, telling me things that I can do. You know, just teaching me the ropes of the game at the NBA level. So it’s great having him around and him being able to show me to do the right thing the right way.
KL: Does the veteran guys help you as much off the court as they do on? You guys live a unique life, being an NBA player. Have the older guys helped you make that transition, too?
JM: Oh yeah. They all guide me, things to do off the court and stuff. Doing the right things, working hard, staying in the gym, and they do a great job of that, giving back.
KL: And stuff like ‘I know this good restaurant to go to in Phoenix.’
JM: Yeah, they show me the ropes. You know, don’t do all the club scene and stuff, just when you’re out on the road, go to a nice restaurant, maybe go see a movie, stuff like that.
KL: So you came to basketball late. When did you start playing? Junior year?
JM: Yeah, junior year of high school I started playing organized ball.
KL: What took you so long to find basketball?
JM: I was into other sports. You know, I ran track, and I played football as well. And my high school coach grabbed me and wanted me to play so I did, and I really fell in love with the game.
KL: Do you feel like you’ve had more to learn than other rookies because of that? There are so many guys who grow up playing AAU ball and stuff, and you don’t have that. Do you feel like that’s a disadvantage for you?
JM: No, I’m a guy that picks up on things really fast. I definitely think I’ve caught up with the other guys. I’m like a sponge, I just soak everything up.
Larry Kuzniewski
KL: Obviously Zach is one of the great big men in the game. What’s that been like? How much have you learned from him?
JM: Man. I love Zach’s game. I really watch his game and study it and try to take pointers from him. And really work on my face up and learn from him, and the way he takes his time and uses his jab to perfection.
KL: He’s so patient with it.
JM: Yeah, he is. He’s really patient. That’s something I’m trying to add in to my game, being real patient, see what the defense gives me before going, and, you know, that’s one thing that I’ve definitely taken from him. It’s been great to be on this team with Z-Bo, being able to learn from him, and being able to guard him, it’s a great feeling.
KL: You’ve also been playing a lot of minutes with JaMychal Green. You guys have got a little bit of chemistry going lately. What makes him easy to play with for you?
JM: When there’s two guys out there who work their butts off, the chemistry will be there. We both just run the floor hard, and we’re young guys who want to show this organization what we can do. We want to be those energy guys coming off the bench. It’s great when me and JaMychal are in the game. We just battle real hard.
KL: So you were hurt the first part of the year, but then you played in Iowa, and now you’re playing real NBA minutes. So… what’s the biggest difference in playing in a D-League game and then playing in an NBA game? It’s different, right?
JM: Yeah, it’s real different. In the D-League, it’s really kind of like pickup ball, like you’re playing a pickup game in a gym somewhere. It’s really fast. Everybody’s just getting up and down the floor. In the NBA, guys take their time, they don’t rush, they move the ball a lot. It’s really different. In the NBA you have to play a team defense, but in the D-League it’s really more like man to man.
KL: I watched when Russ [Smith] had that 65 point game, and there just wasn’t anybody protecting the rim, and I wondered whether the whole league is like that or if it was just that game.
JM: It’s really all like that. I don’t see how somebody can always be getting the rim—because that’s a team thing, that’s not really a man thing.
KL: I wondered how that translates. Because teams are using the D-League to get guys some minutes and some experience, and get their feet wet playing ball, but if it doesn’t translate that well…
JM: Yeah. But it was great for me, you know, coming off of injury, just to go down there and get my feet wet and just get some minutes, get back comfortable and confident with my game. It was still really good for me.
KL: So what’s the big thing you want to work on this summer? What’s the number one thing you know you want to work on this summer?
JM: Man. That’s a tough thing, because I’m a guy… I want to be the best player I can be, so I’m trying to work on everything. My defense, my offense, being able to play facing up to the basket, being able to back down and play on the block… I just want to work on everything. My body, getting healthy, all of it.
KL: So I heard from somebody you like to hunt.
JM: Yeah. You know, I grew up in the country, in different parts of Louisiana.
KL: My friend from Baton Rouge [Author’s note: this friend is Matt Hrdlicka] wanted me to ask you if you ever caught a nutria.
JM: (Laughs) Nah. No.
KL: One last question. This is kind of more about Grizzlies lineups. You’re usually a power forward, but if you’re going to play out of position in some of these three-big lineups, would you rather play bigger against a 5 or as more of a perimeter guy?
JM: I’ve never really thought about it, but one time coach had me in one of those lineups that was me, JMyke, and Ryan Hollins, and he put me out on the perimeter. I’m more of a face-up guy like that, so I’d probably say the three spot.
KL: So does that mean you’re shooting three-pointers next year?
JM: (Laughs) Oh yeah. Whenever I’m wide open.
KL: You’ll start right after Marc does.
JM: Yep.
