I am in a state of indecision/confusion. One of my (and any sophisticated fans) favorite activities is watching (talking, reading & eating) The Nuggets. This has become consumed recently with one MAJOR question: Isn't K-Mart a star player in the NBA? As the last nationally spotlighted game between the Nuggets and Lakers played out, I kept hearing something members of the national and local media have been announcing since The Trade "The Nuggets don't have a star". So I guess the answer is: He isn't.
BUT WAIT. Kenyon Martin was the #1 overall draft pick. He HAS been an all-star. He WAS the highest paid free agent with a "max contract" when his #1 pick contract expired. The Nuggets DID acquire him through a sign and trade with the New Jersey Nets for THREE (3) first round picks (sound a little familiar?). He DID win gold for the USA in '01 & '03. In school, he brought home plenty of awards for his Mom's refrigerator: John R. Wooden Award, NABC, AP, Sporting News, C-USA and Naismith College Player of the Year, Aolph Rupp Trophy, Sporting News, Consensus, NABC, USBWA, and AP All-American First Teams, NABC and C-USA Defensive Player of the Year, and the Oscar Robertson Trophy. The veteran has 9 strait years of playoffs, including multiple trips to the NBA finals & conference championships. He is currently the last American Born College Senior to be taken 1st overall in the NBA Draft.
Realistically, If I knew all this of a prospective Nuggets player (not knowing it was K-Mart) I'd think "forget weather or not this guy is a star, he must be a SUPER STAR." Looking at the former Cincinnati Bearcat's draft position & pro contracts, it is evident that at least a few NBA execs feel he IS. Yet, Kenyon Martin receives little to no media attention in that regard.
K-Mart isn't afraid of sounding off to younger teammates, opponents, fans, reporters or anyone else if they don't respect his authority between the baskets. Good thing, because The Nuggets are running short on players qualified to be a veteran leader. (Something that comes in handy on and off the court.) It is hard to imagine (perhaps) with Kenyon's history of injury trouble and past feuds within the proverbial walls of the Pepsi Center, but he is an ideal team captain. Martin is still a premier defender in the West. Few other players can effectively LOCK DOWN opponents playing every position other than PG. Teammates seem to be inspired by the veteran's constant hustle from the headband down. When #4 is really "on" (or the only healthy-ish player* *see: stretches of last season) he shows a variety of greatness and hard nosed dominance not often attempted in the NBA today. Certainly not a style of greatness awarded with jaw dropping stats or constant sports center appearances. Still, tho, there IS a (junkyard, scrappy) greatness to it.
PLEASE help me to clarify this. So as I sit and listen to announcers describe the Star-less, name-less, post Mello Nuggets all while K Mart snags a clutch last minute tip in; I don't feel like the only one who can see bigfoot sitting next to the camp fire. I need to know once and for all, Is Kenyon Martin an elite Star in the NBA or not? Let Me finally watch these games free of wounder & angst.
Warning: When the Star-driven NBA reaches the playoffs and PR specialists from various networks are trying to "sell" the games to "the great unwashed", we will be hearing MUCH more of KMart's Elite and Big Star status.
Note to KMart: (If you read fan blogs) Don't worry about weather or not the national media is acknowledging your star status right now. Just take the tattoo of lips you removed from your neck, stick it on your rear, ask the national media: "Get the point?" and Do Your Thing, Man. 
