Draftee Tyrese Martin Grateful for the Past As NBA Future Looms
Martin, the UConn alum that served as the Big East’s lone draftee, was introduced as the newest member of the Atlanta Hawks alongside AJ Griffin.
Perhaps true to collegiate form, Tyrese Martin’s NBA entry involved a bit of transferring. Having previously pulled the New England switch from Rhode Island to Connecticut, Martin was originally drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the 51st overall pick in last week’s draft before he was dealt to the Atlanta Hawks.
The former Husky hopes that, in spite of his late arrival, he can make Atlanta as cherished a basketball home as Storrs, as he was all smiles in his introductory statements as the newest member of the Hawks franchise. Sandwiching general manager Landry Fields with first-round choice AJ Griffin of Duke, Martin spoke highly of the new opportunity presented in Georgia.
“I just go out there and play the game the right way. I feel like I don't go out there and clutter an offense, things like that. I'm going go out there and just bring the level of toughness to the game where I rebound on both sides of the backboard,” Martin said when asked what he brings to the team in video provided by Bally Sports South. “I’m going to go out there, guard the best players, shut them down, do all the little things, the little intangibles that affect winning in an impactful way.”
Martin is fresh off a strong senior season at UConn, where he averaged 13.6 points and 7.5 rebounds in his second season in Storrs. Heartbreak awaited in the postseason, but Martin’s efforts helped the Huskies generate consecutive NCAA tournament berths for the first time since 2011-12. He was the only Big East player chosen among the 58 picks on draft night, though UConn had representatives in consecutive drafts for the first time since 2009-14, after James Bouknight went to the Charlotte Hornets at No. 11 overall last year.
Despite his new Atlanta dwelling, Martin refused to forget where he came from, crediting both the UConn program and his hometown of Allentown, Pa., for raising him to both his current standard and his new opportunity.
“I want to thank the University of Connecticut, for what Coach (Dan) Hurley, the assistant coaches have done for me to get me to this point,” Martin said. “Even the city of Allentown for just (getting me) to where they molded me to who I am today. I felt like they deserve a lot of credit for that. I'm so excited to do the work and just bring the toughness and the versatility and anything coach needs me to do, I’m going to do it.”
Martin noted that Allentown had one more parting gift shortly after hearing his name called at the Brooklyn podium: the town dedicated June 24 as “Tyrese Martin Day.” The newly minted Hawk vowed to return to his hometown on that day annually, promising he’d spend it on community service and local charity.
Martin and Griffin (chosen with the 16th overall pick) will don Atlanta jerseys in a game setting for the first time on July 9 when the Hawks’ Las Vegas Summer League schedule tips off against the Utah Jazz (7:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV). The two recent college departures are prepared for anything but a summer vacation, ready to work on their craft for the coming exhibition slate.
In fact, their introductory media conference came shortly after one of their first workouts in red and yellow, as they prepare to work with All-Star Trae Young on a comeback trail with the Hawks looking to improve from their ninth-place posting in the Eastern Conference standings that eventually yielded a first-round playoff exit. Martin vowed to waste no time in getting the Hawks back to their prior glory with the team only one year removed from an Eastern Conference finals appearance. After Vegas, an Atlanta commitment awaits.
“For the next couple of weeks, we're just going to be getting ready for Summer League and making sure we're just getting better every day to make sure we're at our best,” Martin said. “After Summer League, I’m looking for somewhere to live out here. I’m not going back, (Griffin’s) not going back. We’re just here to work.”
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
