Mike Woodson claims he is looking out for Kenyon Martin‘s best interests. Martin thinks the Knicks coach is playing it too conservatively.
This situation has all the makings of a bad ending.
Martin has yet to play this preseason as he recovers from a severely sprained ankle that reportedly healed slowly during the offseason. With three preseason games left to play, the 13-year veteran continues to tell reporters he will be active for the Knicks’ regular-season opener Oct. 30. Woodson is noncommittal, which is starting to grate Martin.
“I’m ready now,” Martin told the New York Post. “And [the season opener] is nine days away. I’m fine, man. If he decides to play me in one of those last preseason games, he’ll let me know. If not, the real show starts and I’m ready.”
Martin, 35, says he understands the team needs to be protective of him, since he is their best defensive big man backing up Tyson Chandler. But his response to a reporter’s question about whether he was surprised about not playing in New York’s last preseason game did not sound all that understanding.
“I wanted to play the first [preseason game],” Martin was quoted as saying. “You got to ask Woody. He’s the coach. If it was up to me, I’ll play.”
