Be prepared, Grizzlies fans. Jarell Martin is poised for a bright future in the Grizzlies frontcourt. While his minutes are limited, he’s set to break out.
With the 25th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft, the Memphis Grizzlies took a chance on Jarell Martin. The 6’10” power forward out of LSU averaged 16.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game while being named 1st-team All-SEC.
Because the Grizzlies needed outside shooting, Martin was a curious pick for the Grizzlies. With veteran big men Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph on the roster, some wondered what the Grizzlies saw in Martin.
A Man On A Mission
After battling through injuries in his rookie season, Martin came into his second season poised to make an impact. It didn’t take long for that to happen, as he posted his first career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds on November 28th.
While, it seems like this is just another article telling you things you may already know about Jarell, I am actually writing this for a different reason. That reason is simple:
Jarell Martin is the future of the Memphis Grizzlies.
For much of last season and at some points this year, the heir to Z-Bo’s throne seems to be JaMychal Green. He plays great defense that meshes well with the Grizzlies “grit ‘n grind” style of play. However, his shortcomings on the offensive end are hard to overlook. Although he has shown that he can score in bunches, those moments seem to be happening less and less.
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At this point, what we’ve seen from Green is what we are going to get. Though he puts in solid minutes, we’ve already seen his best. Players of his skill level make exceptional sixth men, working hard for around 20-25 minutes a night.
Green is kind of like an old Chevy truck. Dependable, hard-working and always there when you need it. Martin, on the other hand, is like a Monster Truck. Big, strong and a hell of a lot of fun to watch.
In With The New
One thing that Martin brings to the table is his offense. At 6’10” 238 pounds, Martin is not only able to post people up. He, also, has the ability to step out and hit three-pointers. With minimal attempts and limited minutes, he has still hit 36 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. Not bad for someone his size. That touch, along with his exceptional free throw shooting (78%), makes Martin a great candidate to breakout sooner rather than later.
Through 38 games this year, Martin is averaging 4.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 14 minutes per game. Per 36, he averages 10.5 points and 10.4 rebounds along with one steal and half a block. If you’ve had the chance to watch Jarell play, though, you would see that those stats are just the tip of the iceberg.
In the second game of the year, Jarell dropped 13 points in just 13 minutes on 5-9 shooting (2-2 from three) in a loss to the Knicks. In a blowout win over the Golden State Warriors, on December 10th, he had an encouraging stat-line of 13 points and 7 rebounds. Both quality performances were against playoff-caliber teams.
Martin reminds me a lot of Z-Bo with a serviceable outside shot. His rebounding may not be on Randolph’s level. However, with a little more time under the vet, Jarell can use his athletic ability to become an above-average rebounder and wreak havoc down low.
What This Means Going Forward
Although nobody really knows what the future holds, Martin is on the fast track to a successful NBA career.
Realistically, I see Martin as a guy that can put up 16 points and 8 boards per night. Having that kind of production combined with Gasol, Parsons, Allen & Conley would make the Grizzlies not only a great defensive team, but also a force to be reckoned with on the offensive end.
Every team needs that X-factor to take them from a playoff contender to a championship contender. Many people thought that X-factor would be Chandler Parsons, but I think Martin will turn heads sooner rather than later.
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