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06-15-2002, 08:39 AM
After meeting with New Jersey Nets coach Byron Scott and Nets President Rod Thorn, emotional forward Kenyon Martin offered an apology for his remarks critical of teammates made immediately after the Los Angeles Lakers' championship sweep.
"I said some things last night that I probably shouldn't have said," Martin said. "I was a little disappointed, so the emotions got over me a little bit."
Martin had criticized teammates, without using names, who he felt had not played hard enough in Game 4's 113-107 loss on Wednesday. Martin had a career night, leading the Nets with 35 points and 11 rebounds.
Thorn and Scott both made it clear Martin's comments were not acceptable.
"I just didn't think you should say it publicly," Thorn said. "I think that was emotion speaking. He obviously was at a very high pitch and played very, very hard. Some guys didn't play particularly well, I don't think it was from a lack of playing hard."
Said Scott: "I just wanted to make him aware that we don't need that, period. Obviously, I wanted more from a few guys last night. We didn't get it."
Martin seemed to implicate teammates Keith Van Horn and Kerry Kittles when he said the proof that some players didn't play with heart could be found in the stat sheet. Van Horn shot 3 of 7 in Game 4 for seven points, while Kittles was 4-for-10 with 11 points.
"It's the most important game of our lives and people went and they just didn't bring it," Martin said Wednesday night.
"I said some things last night that I probably shouldn't have said," Martin said. "I was a little disappointed, so the emotions got over me a little bit."
Martin had criticized teammates, without using names, who he felt had not played hard enough in Game 4's 113-107 loss on Wednesday. Martin had a career night, leading the Nets with 35 points and 11 rebounds.
Thorn and Scott both made it clear Martin's comments were not acceptable.
"I just didn't think you should say it publicly," Thorn said. "I think that was emotion speaking. He obviously was at a very high pitch and played very, very hard. Some guys didn't play particularly well, I don't think it was from a lack of playing hard."
Said Scott: "I just wanted to make him aware that we don't need that, period. Obviously, I wanted more from a few guys last night. We didn't get it."
Martin seemed to implicate teammates Keith Van Horn and Kerry Kittles when he said the proof that some players didn't play with heart could be found in the stat sheet. Van Horn shot 3 of 7 in Game 4 for seven points, while Kittles was 4-for-10 with 11 points.
"It's the most important game of our lives and people went and they just didn't bring it," Martin said Wednesday night.