At a time when an MMA fight can end because of a splinter in the foot, NBA players also have to deal with their little injuries as the end of the season approaches. This is the case of Caleb Martinvictim of a sprained left thumb since February 29 against Denver but who does not intend to stop playing just yet.
A choice that reflects the personality of Cody Martin's twin and the identity of his Miami franchise. As it is not his shooting hand, the winger sees no reason to stop and prefers to wait until the end of the season to possibly consider treatment for several weeks.
No time to give up
It's working out pretty well for him so far, as he's averaging 13.3 points at 47.8% from 3-point range in almost six attempts on average over his last four games.
“This injury is not going to change anything. We're going to have to take care of it at some point, but I'm going with it and I'm going to continue playing regardless, until I can't do it anymore. I've already been through this with the medical staff. They said I could take care of it later, and that's what I'm going to do.”, he explained.
To make matters worse, Caleb Martin has had more physical problems since the All-Star Weekend break as he also twisted his ankle and received six stitches after taking a blow to the mouth. But for the player, it is “the time of the season” where you have to know how to manage the various physical problems without letting your team down.
The winger's season has so far been punctuated by numerous injuries, particularly in the first three months of competition, between tendinitis in his knee which caused him to miss ten matches at the start of the year, then a sprained ankle. which also cost him in December and early January.
Not perturbed by his potential contract extension
Paradoxically, even if he cannot yet evolve 100%, his coach Erik Spoelstra believes that he has regained his physical skills and his endurance, and that this is what allows him to compensate for his minor ailments. For two months, Caleb Martin has not missed a match.
“I think this is the most important”Coach Spoelstra emphasized at the start of the week. “He didn't have his legs back until early 2024. He was doing everything he had to do to get them back and be available for the team. All the credit goes to him. At the start of the year, he was far from being 100% physically. But now he has his legs back.”
Among the issues at the end of the season, his potential extension with Miami while he has a “player option” at $7.1 million for next season. For him, this fact does not really come into play, since he believes he has already shown what he is capable of.
“When it gets to that point, people kind of know what you can and can't do, and what you bring to the team, whether it's creating, shooting, defending or whatever. It's not like my role is going to change significantly in the space of a few months. I think it helps me not worry too much about it.”he concluded.
| Caleb Martin | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 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 |
| 2023-24 | MIA | 45 | 27 | 45.6 | 39.5 | 77.3 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 10.5 |
| Total | 247 | 24 | 45.8 | 36.7 | 76.0 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 8.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
