2020 NBA Draft: Houston Rockets select Kenyon Martin Jr. with No. 52 overall pick

After trading their first-round pick (16th overall) to the Detroit Pistons, the Houston Rockets selected Kenyon Martin Jr. from IMG Academy with their 52nd overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft. Martin is the son of former NBA All-Star Kenyon Martin.

Standing at 6-foot-6, Martin is an explosive forward who plays with high energy on both ends of the floor. During the 2019-20 season, he averaged 19.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.

His best game of the season took place in a 100-95 victory over Hargrave Academy. The 19-year-old forward finished with a season-high 34 points, 16 rebounds, five steals and two blocks in 38 minutes. As a high school graduate in 2019, Martin played for IMG’s post-grad basketball team.

Martin’s selection was the second move of the night for Rockets’ new general manager, Rafael Stone. Prior to the draft, the Rockets agreed to a trade that sent the No. 16th pick and Trevor Ariza to the Pistons for a heavily protected future first-round pick. According to ESPN’ Tim MacMahon, Houston traded their 2021 second-round pick bought from Detroit for $4.6M and an extra $1M to acquire the No. 52 overall pick used to make their selection.