(Boulder-CO) I’ve been very opinionated when it has come to the turbulent events with Kenyon Martin while a player on the Denver Nuggets. I have also been very reserve on commenting on his latest injury situation because so much was not known about the condition and estimated time it will take for him to return to action. But now that the facts are being separated from the fiction I am not only feeling compassion for Kenyon Martin. I am also a bit concerned about the future of his career. How a player could be getting taped up for action one minute. And then be told that he is not going to play for the entire season later within the week must not only be frightening news for an athlete to have to face, but must also be immensely frustrating for an athlete that has just overcome similar injury. That’s right folks, if you haven’t figured it out yet, Kenyon Martin has another serious knee injury and it might be time for another microfracture surgery. Quoting Mark Kiszla from the Denver Post, “Other than admitting his operation revealed more significant damage than expected, the team was extremely tight-lipped about his condition. The Nuggets refused to confirm or deny that Martin required the same painful microfracture surgery on his right knee that he endured on his left knee 18 months ago and forced him to play in a career-low 56 games last season.” Rex Chapman then added, “This is not something we anticipated. For the organization, it's a tough blow.”
Aside what I think is best for the Nuggets; it would be a tragedy if Kenyon Martin was not able to resume normal play in the NBA. He may have been a character that was attracted to controversy, but I don’t think anyone, including myself, is not hoping for the best for Kenyon. He was one of the most exciting talents this league has seen in the new millennium and he will surely be missed for however long the duration of his rehabilitation takes.
Kiszla also writes, “It could take Martin a year to return, if he can return at all. While it's a perfectly safe and increasingly common medical procedure, microfracture surgery can pose one of the more daunting challenges for any pro athlete.” Just ask Amare Stoudemire who spent the entire 2005-06 season rehabilitating after his microfracture procedure and still isn’t the same player athletically that he formerly was.
Amare does have one thing in his favor, and that is his youth. He is turning 24 tomorrow, while Kenyon is turning 29 in just over a month. Not to mention Kenyon’s prior knee issues are going to play a role in a pending comeback that will most likely take until he turns 30.
There are a lot of questions right now for Kenyon Martin and the Denver Nuggets to answer in the near future. Right now however, I would like to extend the warmest wishes to Kenyon and his family in hopes of a speedy and full recovery. Sometimes the NBA and stories that accompany it are bigger than wins and losses and this is one of those times.
2 comments:
This experience with his knees reminds me of another Nuggets Power Forward who had degenerative knee problems until it forced him into an early retirement. That was LaPhonso Ellis. Phonze was easily one of the most electric power forwards in the NBA at the time and never missed a game until his 3rd year in the league when his first injury occurred. After that, it was 3 years of is he healthy, is he not? It was a sad day in 1999 when he left to Atlanta. A quality person and a quality athlete who's career was cut short by recurring knee problems.
As far as Kenyon is concerned, the media is eating this up and I am disgusted by it. Yes, the Nuggets have a better record when he isn't playing, but he hasn't been 100% when he has been playing for the Nuggets either. Just ask Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson what kind of player Kenyon is when he's healthy. Healthy or not, He's one of the most passionate, competitive players in the league when he steps onto the court. They can't tell me he doesn't try. Last year's playoff frustration was based on that. The guy was willing to play injured because he wanted to win and contribute. What the media fails to realize or acknowledge is he's feels a lot of pressure with his enormous salary to perform, and the guy is willing to play injured because of it. He's not content sitting on the bench and getting paid. That's not what he's here to do. Give the man some credit. He's a good father, and husband off the court as well. You can't say that about a lot of players in the league. I also send my best wishes to Kenyon and his family as well.
Very well said jon-michael. You make a lot of good points.
Thanks for reading,
The Nugg Doctor
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