We have often talked about the Heat’s ability to find and develop players that no one wanted. New example with Caleb Martin, X factor of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final with 25 points at 11/16 to shoot.
Still, in the summer of 2021, the winger was out of contract. Released by Charlotte after two discreet seasons in North Carolina (5.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists on average), Cody’s brother could not find a jump seat for the 2021/22 season. But he attended rapper J. Cole’s gymnasium in Fayetteville.
Good basketball player, to the point of having been able to play professionally, the singer then used his connections.
“He contacted me and told me he had a very, very talented guy who was wreaking havoc in North Carolina”explained Caron Butler at the Charlotte Observer. ” He [Martin] had just been cut by the Hornets. Obviously, we were trying on our side to improve our squad by finding talent”.
Erik Spoelstra’s assistant then decided to put Caleb Martin on trial.
“J. Cole contacted me and I invited Caleb Martin to an open training session over the summer. But J. Cole had the foresight to know that Caleb could help a title contender, and that’s amazing.”
Erik Spoelstra confirmed the story in this Eastern Conference final against Boston while in the wake of his trial, Caleb Martin had signed a “two-way contract” with the Heat, before initialing a real contract of 20.4 million dollars over three years in Miami l ‘last summer.
| Caleb Martin | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2019-20 | CHA | 18 | 18 | 44.0 | 54.1 | 81.0 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 6.2 |
| 2020-21 | CHA | 53 | 15 | 37.5 | 24.8 | 64.1 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 5.0 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 60 | 23 | 50.7 | 41.3 | 76.3 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 9.2 |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 71 | 29 | 46.4 | 35.6 | 80.5 | 1.2 | 3.6 | 4.9 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 9.6 |
| Total | 202 | 23 | 45.8 | 36.0 | 75.6 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 8.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
