When asking different NBA coaches about the favorite players they ever had the pleasure of working with, the names that dominate the discussion usually include tireless workers, relentless competitors, and guys who made the coach look better simply by showing up and doing their job. Michael Jordan . Kobe Bryant . LeBron James . You know, the usual suspects…
However, on the complete opposite side of that spectrum, there was always that one guy who spelled trouble. Whether it was issues on the court, off-the-court behavior, or simply a clash of personalities, some players stick in a coach's memory long after their paths cross. And for Byron Scott , the three-time NBA champion turned head coach, that guy was the former No. 1 overall pick of the New Jersey Nets .
Scott carved out a highly respectable playing career, serving as a reliable contributor on the Los Angeles Lakers ' championship teams during the 1980s. A steady shooter who knew his role, Scott eventually transitioned into coaching after hanging them up for good, first taking an assistant role with the Sacramento Kings during the 1998–99 season.
Even though he was still young at the time, Scott landed his first head-coaching job just two years later, taking over the Nets team that was talented but very much rough around the edges. That stint is where he first crossed paths with Kenyon Martin .
The Nets selected Martin with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, banking on the highly touted Cincinnati product to become the foundation of the franchise. On the court, K-Mart was all business, but, as Scott recalled, the issues surfaced away from game nights, specifically when it came to practice habits and daily work.
" Kenyon might have been the hardest to coach. Because Kenyon had a way of doing things. But once he gets involved in practices, then he'd give you everything," the renowned coach pointed out before continuing. There were days that Kenyon would come and says, 'Coach, I'm TI-red.' I was like, 'You, what?' Tired. "
That was the core of the problem. It was never about arguments behind closed doors, at least according to Scott. It was about work ethic, or more precisely, the lack of consistency with it.
" He might have been one of the most difficult guys to coach because it was hard getting him to practice, but when that ball was thrown up, Kenyon Martin would give you 110% and I love that about him. I love his toughness, I love his grit, and a hell of a defender. He can guard multiple positions as well. That kid had no fear and one of the smartest players I had. But just getting him to practice was like pulling teeth," Scott added.
Scott was calling the shots from the sidelines in New Jersey from 2000 to 2004, which overlapped perfectly with Martin's tenure on the team. Together, they led the Nets to back-to-back Eastern Conference titles, before running into the formidable teams of the Lakers in 2002 and the San Antonio Spurs in 2003.
Sometimes, all a coach wants to see is a willingness to put in extra work during practice, and for Martin, that part was never really there. Kenyon himself later admitted that he treated basketball more like a job, lacking the obsession that separates truly great players from merely good ones.
Martin was good, no question. He earned an All-Star selection in his final season with the Nets and regularly put on a show alongside Jason Kidd. But injuries, combined with an inconsistent passion for the grind, left plenty of "what ifs" attached to his 14-year tenure in the Association.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
