Kevin Martin (basketball, born 1983)
A scoring savant with an unorthodox shot, he quietly averaged over 20 points a game for multiple NBA seasons.
Born 1983 (age 43)·American basketball player·Birthday: February 1·Millennials
Biography
Kevin Martin's game was a study in efficiency and idiosyncrasy. With a shooting form that coaches might have tried to correct in a less talented player—a release that began near his hip—he became one of the NBA's most consistent and crafty scorers. After a standout college career at Western Carolina, he entered the league without fanfare as a late first-round pick for the Sacramento Kings. There, he honed a unique ability to draw fouls and get to the free-throw line, where he was nearly automatic. Martin's scoring prowess, often exceeding 20 points per game, made him a coveted asset, leading to stints with the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Minnesota Timberwolves. While never an All-Star, his offensive impact was undeniable; he was a player whose subtle moves and high basketball IQ allowed him to thrive in an era of more athletic stars.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Kevin was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kevin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Kevin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Averaged 20 points or more per game in four separate NBA seasons.
- Led the NBA in free-throw percentage during the 2010-11 season with a mark of 88.8%.
- Scored a career-high 50 points for the Sacramento Kings in a game against the Golden State Warriors in 2009.
Did You Know?
He is one of only five players in NBA history to make over 100 three-pointers and shoot over 90% from the free-throw line in a single season.
He wore jersey number 23 throughout his career as a tribute to his childhood idol, Michael Jordan.
In his junior year of college, he averaged 24.9 points per game, second-highest in the nation behind only Keydren Clark.
“I didn't care how it looked; if the ball went in, the shot was correct.”
