When the New York Knicks signed Jaylen Martin as an undrafted free agent out of Overtime Elite just a few weeks ago, it wasn't his first exposure to the organization.
In high school, Martin played for Florida State University Schools in Tallahassee, Fla., where former Knicks great Charlie Ward was his head coach. Martin said he still talks to Ward frequently and he's helped shape him into the player he is today.
“We talk day to day," Martin said (h/t New York Basketball on Twitter). "Explaining how the league works … He’s been where I want to be at … I’m just trying to fill his shoes, as far as playing the right way, being a great man, great role model. Everything he’s taught me, (I'm) trying to use it.”
Ward was a dynamic two-sport athlete at Florida State, winning the Heisman Trophy as a quarterback, but opting for a career in basketball. He was drafted by the Knicks with the 26th overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft and spent a decade in the Big Apple, becoming a fan favorite for his grit and toughness, especially on the defensive end.
Players like Ward end up having long, successful careers not because they show off in the stat sheet, but rather because they work hard. It appears that Ward has rubbed off on Martin.
“Anybody that’s coming into this league…has to learn how to be a pro," Knicks Summer League coach Dice Yoshimoto said. (h/t New York Basketball) "Since (joining the Knicks) he’s done that. He’s been in the gym all day. He’s a gym rat. He wants to learn. He wants to get better. The sky’s the limit for him.”
Martin scored 12 points off the bench in nearly 26 minutes during the Knicks' 110-101 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers to kick off Las Vegas Summer League. He'll look to build off that performance against the Brooklyn Nets' prospects on Sunday late afternoon (5:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV).
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