LaRue Martin facts for kids
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Martin in 1972
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 26, 1950 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| High school | De La Salle Institute (Chicago, Illinois) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 208 lb (94 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Loyola Chicago (1969–1972) |
| NBA Draft | 1972 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall |
| Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Pro career | 1972–1976 |
| Career history | |
| 1972–1976 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 1,430 (5.3 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,258 (4.6 rpg) |
| Assists | 203 (0.7 apg) |
LaRue Martin (born March 30, 1950) is an American former professional basketball player. He was chosen as the very first player in the 1972 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. This means he was the top pick out of all the college players hoping to join the National Basketball Association (NBA) that year.
Interestingly, Martin was picked before future basketball legends like Bob McAdoo and Julius Erving, who are now in the Hall of Fame. While his NBA career was short, LaRue Martin went on to have a very successful career in the business world.
Contents
College Basketball Journey
LaRue Martin grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He was a tall player, standing 6 feet 11 inches (211 cm) as a center. He played high school basketball at De La Salle Institute in Chicago.
After high school, Martin stayed in Chicago to play college basketball for the Loyola Ramblers at Loyola University Chicago. In his first year playing for the varsity team (1969–1970), he had a great start. He averaged 16.6 points and 14.4 rebounds per game. This is called a double-double, meaning he got double-digit numbers in two different stats (points and rebounds) in many games.
He continued to play well in his junior year (1970–1971), averaging 18.7 points and 17.6 rebounds. In his senior year (1971–1972), he averaged 19.6 points and 15.7 rebounds.
One of Martin's most famous college games was against Bill Walton and UCLA in 1972. Even though Loyola lost, Martin played very well against Walton, who was a future NBA star. Martin scored 19 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, while Walton had 18 points and 16 rebounds. This strong performance, along with another good game against Jim Chones, caught the eye of a scout from the Portland Trail Blazers.
During his time at Loyola, Martin averaged 18.2 points and 15.9 rebounds per game. He is still Loyola's all-time leading rebounder, which means he has more rebounds than any other player in the school's history.
Playing in the NBA
Portland Trail Blazers (1972–1976)
Starting Years (1972–1974)
The Portland Trail Blazers chose LaRue Martin as the first player picked in the 1972 NBA draft. This was a big deal, as he was the top choice out of all the talented players.
The 1972 NBA draft was a bit confusing because of rumors about players signing with a different league called the American Basketball Association (ABA). Some thought that famous players like Bob McAdoo and Julius Erving might go to the ABA instead of the NBA. Despite this, Portland chose Martin. After him, the Buffalo Braves picked Bob McAdoo, and the Milwaukee Bucks picked Julius Erving.
As a rookie (a first-year player) in the 1972–73 season, Martin played limited minutes. He averaged 4.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. The Trail Blazers were a new team and struggled, winning only 21 games. Martin sometimes found it tough. Once, when playing in his hometown of Chicago, his coach kept him on the bench for the whole game. Martin later said this was "a tough pill to swallow" and that he felt embarrassed.
Martin felt his coach, Jack McCloskey, didn't fully believe in his skills. He understood that the coach might have preferred Bob McAdoo, who was a fantastic player. Martin always kept quiet and followed instructions, even when things were difficult.
Later Seasons (1974–1976)
In the 1974–75 season, the Trail Blazers got a new coach, Lenny Wilkens. They also drafted another top player, Bill Walton, who was also a center. This meant Martin's playing time sometimes went down. However, when Walton was injured, Martin got more chances to play and averaged 7.0 points per game.
Before the 1976 season, Martin was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics. But he didn't play any more games after that. He was later cut by Seattle and tried to sign with other teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls, but he didn't play for them either. He also turned down offers to play basketball in Europe.
In his four years in the NBA, LaRue Martin played 271 games. He averaged 5.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, playing about 14 minutes each game.
Sometimes, Martin's name comes up when people talk about NBA draft picks who didn't have long, superstar careers. However, Martin always had a positive outlook. He said, "I don't believe in saying anything negative... I kept my head up high and moved onto a positive mode of life and it has treated me very well." He was able to move on and build a successful career outside of basketball.
Life After Basketball
After his basketball career, LaRue Martin earned a college degree in sociology and education from Loyola. He then started a new career path.
He worked for companies like Nike and an insurance company. In the mid-1980s, he joined UPS, a well-known delivery company. He has worked there for many years, serving as the Community Services Manager since 2005. This role involves helping the community.
Martin is also part of the National Basketball Retired Players Association Board of Directors. He is very active in his community, serving on boards and helping with different groups. These include the City Club of Chicago and the YMCA Mentoring Program. He has also been involved with the Urban League and the Boys and Girls Club.
In 2011, Martin was featured in a TV show called Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.
Awards and Recognitions
LaRue Martin has received many honors for his basketball career and his community work:
- In 1982, he was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.
- Loyola University Chicago retired his jersey number, 20, in 2002. This means no other player at Loyola will wear that number.
- He is in the De La Salle Institute Sports Hall of Fame.
- He is also in the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame.
- In 2018, he was named to the All-Century Team at Loyola, recognizing him as one of the best players in the school's history.
- Martin has received many awards for his community service, including the Leadership in Community Relations Award and the Black Heritage Award.
Images for kids
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LaRue Martin playing basketball
See also
In Spanish: LaRue Martin para niños
