“Don’t Know If It’s Racist But…” Kenyon Martin Opens Up About Uncomfortable Interactions With George Karl

Kenyon Martin believes George Karl’s disconnect with players played a major role in Denver Nuggets' struggles.

“Don’t Know If It’s Racist But…” Kenyon Martin Opens Up About Uncomfortable Interactions With George Karl

Kenyon Martin and George Karl (Image credits - Firstsportz)

In Short
  • Kenyon Martin expressed discomfort with George Karl's inability to connect with Black players.
  • Martin's relationship with Karl was strained, impacting his passion for the game.
  • Karl's critical remarks in his book about Martin and Carmelo Anthony highlighted their troubled dynamics.

Former NBA star Kenyon Martin was a promising talent back in the day. The power forward was drafted by the New Jersey Nets as the number one pick in the 2000 NBA draft. After spending four seasons with the Nets, he was traded to the Denver Nuggets.

Martin joined forces with Carmelo Anthony and spent seven seasons with the Nuggets. During his time in Denver, he played under Hall of Fame head coach George Karl. While injuries were an issue for Martin in Denver, he had a few heated altercations with Karl as well.

During an appearance on Byron Scott’s Fast Break podcast, Martin was asked if he thought Karl was a racist.

I don’t know if it’s racist, but definitely don’t know how to deal and talk with Black people. It’s that I’m better than you kind of a thing, but they’re not going to say it. So, I ain’t going to say like I said racist because you’ve been around this, you’ve been in this, but some of that energy I could see it. But for me, I just don’t think you’ve took the time or cared about getting to know us. The other side of it. The young Black athlete. We’re different. We think different. We dress different. We behave different.

Kenyon Martin on Fast Break podcast

The key to a successful team is having healthy relationships between players and coaches. It is difficult for a team to function when there is no proper connection and management. This was the case during George Karl’s time in Denver from 2005 to 2013.

For everything that Karl has achieved as a head coach, he took the Nuggets to the playoffs in all his nine seasons, but made it to just one Western Conference Finals in 2009. In the other eight seasons, they were knocked out in the first round.

He had a troubled relationship with Kenyon Martin. The player and coach butted heads during their time in Denver. While Martin did not label Karl as a racist, he did say Karl did not know how to connect with the black players. However, there have been personalities who have labeled the head coach as a racist.

George Karl was critical of Kenyon Martin and Carmelo Anthony in his book

George Karl often clashed with his players. He clashed with DeMarcus Cousins during his time in Sacramento and the infamous beef with star player Carmelo Anthony in Denver. Anthony was regarded as one of the best players in the league in the 2000s, but Karl did not rate him highly, and the two never had a good relationship with each other.

Karl released a book titled “Furious George” in 2017. In his book, he was critical of Martin and Anthony. He wrote:

Kenyon and Carmelo carried two big burdens: all that money and no father to show them how to act like a man.

Martin never had any relationship with his father, while Anthony lost his father due to cancer when he was two years old. The statements were in bad taste. However, it just went on to show the relationship Martin and Anthony had with their former head coach. It also ensured Martin was never going to mend fences with Karl.

Denver situation drained Kenyon Martin’s love for the game

For the potential Kenyon Martin had when he was drafted into the NBA, many believed that he underachieved in his career. During his 15 years in the NBA, Martin played for various franchises such as the New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, and Milwaukee Bucks.

Kenyon Martin
Kenyon Martin (Image credits – CTRL The Narrative/X)

Martin explained that his Denver situation drained his love for the game as he stopped working on his craft.

There was no secret on how I felt about him (George Karl). But I didn’t get traded. He’s still head coach. I’m going to show up and do my job. You don’t say nothing about me negative in the paper and we good. We coexisted for the rest of my time in Denver that way. I show up and do my job. But it wasn’t the right thing for me. I stopped working on my game. I didn’t want to be in the gym. I didn’t want to be around that environment. I didn’t want to be around it. I would go to practice and leave.

Kenyon Martin on his Denver situation

He was selected as an All-Star once in 2004 and the NBA All-Rookie First Team. However, both achievements were during his time with the Nets. Injuries and his poor relationship with Karl played a role in Martin losing his love for the game.

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