"That's my homie," Martin said last week, smiling. Martin said back then, during his first two years of college, the rapper, whose own career was beginning to take off, would often play pick-up games in the same gym as him.īefore long, a mutual respect and admiration began. Credit also to the artist for having his eyes wide open as far back as 2014, when he came across a 19-year-old Martin at North Carolina State. Those kind of guys are hard to find."Ĭredit, then, to J. "Then starting for the majority of the season, and then not having any kind of issue coming off the bench, and finding a way to be really impactful in both those roles. "And he's taken on roles that you typically don't want to take on if you're coming into this league, doing all the little things, the dirty work, defending. "He's taken on a lot of different roles," Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said of Martin before Game 4. That includes a 25-point effort in Game 3 that was bested only by fellow undrafted teammate, veteran starter Gabe Vincent, who had 29.
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In the current series alone, he's come off the bench in all five games and scored in double figures. While guard Jimmy Butler's string of iconic performances throughout these playoffs has him living up to his All-Star and All-NBA billing, Martin, a Miami staple the past two seasons, has been a major spark plug, too.Įntering Saturday's Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics, Martin has averaged 12.9 points in this year's playoffs. Without Martin's presence this postseason, the Heat may not be in the enviable spot of sitting on the precipice of the NBA Finals.Īfter averaging just 9.6 points - a career-high no less - in a split starter and reserve role this past regular season, the 27-year-old Martin has been comparatively otherworldly in the playoffs. And if it didn't, then maybe Miami's run through this postseason would have gone far differently.
Cole's phone call, there's a chance Martin's workout would have never happened. "It was just one of those things where I was like, 'Damn, he actually called me about this kid,'" Butler said, "and he's like, 'Yo, seriously, he needs that. "Basketball scout" is a title that probably should soon appear on his résumé, too. But he's also more than just a man behind a microphone. Cole has been well-respected in his industry for more than a dozen years. Known more for the wit and nuanced life experience he deftly showcases in his music, J.
"There are certain people that when they call you about particular people, the message and the favor is a little louder than others," Butler said. More humbling now? Seeing the way the rapper looked out for someone whose grind he had long been paying attention to. Cole says in his rhythmic, staccato style delivery: "Caron Butler, I'm a Wizard if ya doesn't know / It's Young Simba, yeah, I'm ballin' till the buzzer blow." Cole are represented by the same agency now, their friendship originally formed when the rapper dropped his song "The Autograph" on his critically-acclaimed 2010 mixtape "Friday Night Lights."Īt that time, Butler was near the end of a five-year run with the Washington Wizards, one of nine teams the former first-round pick played for in his 14-year career.ĭuring one verse on "The Autograph," J. "As a former player, I used to always pride myself on building relationships before it was a thing." "We have a lot of relationships across the board," Heat assistant coach Caron Butler, who has known J. With a collective eye on the upcoming season, and the need for developing a role-playing forward to help stretch the floor offensively while giving tough, physical minutes defensively, the Heat hastily put together a workout for Martin.Īlthough they had been eyeing the undrafted then-free agent for some time, Miami's decision-makers were spurred to finally bring Martin in, thanks to a suggestion from an unlikely source - Grammy Award-winning rapper J. "I think about that day all the time," the Miami Heat forward said. MIAMI - Even during this, the best and most important stretch of basketball he's played in his life, Caleb Martin's thoughts regularly revert back to the workout that forever changed the trajectory of his career. NBA, Miami Heat, NC State Wolfpack, Nevada Wolf Pack Cole helped Caleb Martin land with the Miami Heat
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