Jarell Martin signed a two-year deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv as the 28-years-old, 6”10 power forward will join Oded Katash’s emerging frontcourt after leading the Sydney Kings to the Australian NBL championship for the club’s first title in 17 years.
Last season Martin averaged 16 points and 7.9 rebounds per game while hitting 37.5% of his three point attempts in the regular season which increased to 45% in the playoffs as he scored 22 points, grabbed 17 boards and recorded an efficiency rating of 36 in the deciding game of the finals
“Jarell is a very versatile player,” Katash said. “He is a good offensive player and an excellent rebounder on both sides of the court. He played in the NBA and in Australia, so he will have to adapt to the EuroLeague, but I trust that he will do it in the best way possible. He is a team player who played a major part for the Aussie champions last season.”
Martin was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was quickly spotted by LSU recruiters, who brought him in to play for the Tigers. In his second season in college, he recorded 16.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, prompting him to register for the 2015 NBA Draft where he was selected 25th overall by Memphis.
The power forward played three seasons in Memphis, going back and forth between the NBA and G-League. In his third season in Tennessee, Martin provided 7.7 points and 4.4 boards per game, starting in 36 out of 73 games. In 2018 he moved to Orlando, all in all playing in almost 190 NBA games. In 2019, Jarell departed the NBA and went to China, where he briefly played for the Shenzhen Aviators.
After another short stint in the G-League, Martin found a new home down under when he signed with the Sydney Kings. In his first season in Australia, he emerged as one of the top players in the league with 17.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 40% from deep. Last year he stepped up big in money time to help lead the Kings to the title.
WHO ARE YOU JARELL MARTIN?
Tom Hersz NBL Journalist
“Jarell Martin will always have a home in the NBL. He endeared himself to the fans and the media with his team-first, selfless attitude towards the game, which is not always seen from imports trying to get back to the NBA. But Martin never forced the issue and always played within his team’s system and within himself.
“In the process, he became one of the most reliable big men in the league these past two seasons, culminating in a championship this past campaign (2021-22). He had an outstanding finals series, having a big impact with timely baskets and on the boards, especially the offensive rebounds and has always played solid defense. He is mobile enough to switch screens, even out to the perimeter at times and has the ability to score in a variety of ways.
“His low post game is very solid as he has a good face-up game and can stretch the floor (39% from 3-pt range over his two seasons). But I think Martin’s friendly personality and demeanor may be missed the most. He was liked by everyone who came in contact with him and they were all better from having been around ‘Rell’ as he was called. We’re thrilled that he’s gotten an opportunity to play for a powerhouse like Maccabi Tel Aviv. Good luck Rell!”
Ben Quaglita from Beyond The Fence in Australia
“Martin signed for the Kings after they had a very successful 2019-20 season where they made (but lost) the grand final series. That Kings team featured Andrew Bogut as well as future NBA players Didi Louzada and Jae’Sean Tate, but none of those guys returned the season after.
“Martin’s first season was disappointing for the team because of the player turnover as well as losing previous head coach Will Weaver to the Rockets in the NBA, but Martin proved himself capable of being a leading import in a league that is still learning how to officiate American big men. He was primarily a PF in his first season and was too strong for NBL PFs, his main strengths being his back to the basket game and his ability to hit threes.
“Last season the Kings brought in some elite talent in Jaylen Adams, Dejan Vasiljevic, returning Xavier Cooks and Ian Clark, but lost their starting center in preseason so Martin was asked to handle the majority of center minutes. This was important because he had a poor previous season on defense and in rebounding but improved and killed teams as a smaller center with his speed and ability to hit the outside shots, forming an elite pick and roll partner with Jaylen Adams.
“In terms of his style of play, I think he proved he can be an elite stretch center that can also play inside, he has a dangerous post game including being able to spin and hook over either shoulder, but is equally adept flaring to the corner for threes. The Kings also ran double big lineups with Makur Maker and Martin, and Martin showed nice interior passing ability.
“Martin developed defensively and as an overall leader in Sydney, and his presence inside and in the locker room will be sorely missed for a Kings team trying to defend their championship. Everyone in the organization raves about Martin the person before Martin the player, and considering how good he is as a player that’s high praise. Maccabi have got themselves a high character leader.
I’m not familiar with the Israeli league but Martin thrived in transition playing a faster pace last season because of his ability to outrun traditional centers so if Maccabi push the pace and find him on rim runs he’ll be a dangerous option both in transition and then in traditional half-court offense because of his ability to punish mismatches.”
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