Every NBA team’s most underrated player
By Tom West
![Oct 31, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3), right, dribbles by Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3), left, during the fourth quarter of the game at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Suns won 101-90. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports Oct 31, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3), right, dribbles by Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3), left, during the fourth quarter of the game at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Suns won 101-90. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/f0484431bf3ef0f2459c18050778c5adc2c1569c6d458f03b85713c33efc6d8f.jpg)
Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Martin
Not many of us would have anticipated the Timberwolves having such a good start to the 2015-16 season. The selection of Karl-Anthony Towns with the first pick in this year’s NBA draft was an excellent one, and the likes of Zach LaVine and especially Andrew Wiggins have an immense amount of potential for the future. Yet, after the first couple of weeks, they have a 4-5 record with wins over the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks. They even lost to the Warriors by just 13, which is by no means easy right now. Just ask the Grizzlies.
While Towns has been remarkable and Wiggins already has three 30 point games, there is another player who’s often forgotten when looking at the Timberwolves.
That man is Kevin Martin.
Unfortunately for Martin and Minnesota, he was only able to play 39 games last season. However, in that time, he averaged 20 points per game with a three point percentage of 39.3. Unless you’re a fan of the team or love looking back at stats, you’d probably never even know he was such an effective scorer (albeit on the NBA’s worst team with almost no one to look to).
Now, in a role coming of the bench, he’s putting up 12.3 points a game, although he’s fallen into a bit of a shooting slump by going a mere 34.8 percent from the floor. If he heats up, he can show what he has to offer again. He’s always been a deadly perimeter threat, with an average of 18 points per game throughout his career. Among so many thrilling young prospects, though, Martin just delivers however is necessary and doesn’t worry about standing out.
Next: Dallas Mavericks