Today’s Brooklyn Nets news features Kenyon Martin publicly apologizing to point guard Jeremy Lin, and head coach Kenny Atkinson talking team depth.
Point guard Jeremy Lin published a column on the Players’ Tribune Thursday afternoon about his new hair style. Former NBA star Kenyon Martin had some not so nice things to say about it, which started an internet frenzy.
You can read more on that here.
To bring the social media feud to a close, Martin apologized to Lin when talking with TMZ.
“Man had dreadlocks and I thought it was hilarious. Nothing more nothing less than I thought it was hilarious. The wording I used was probably bad. Wasn’t my intentions to be anything racist. I thought it was nothing more than getting a laugh and joke out of it. If I ruffled Jeremy Lin’s feathers, or if I made him feel a way, I apologize bro.”
Martin was heavily criticized by Lin’s enormous social media following, which likely prompted the quick response.
Elsewhere in Nets land, head coach Kenny Atkinson is very pleased with the team’s deep and talented roster. Beat writer Bryan Froncesa was at team practice Friday, and Atkinson spoke with the media after.
“We have reasonable minutes’ expectations – that said you can’t play 15 (guys). It’s hard to play 12. 10 is probably ideal, but with the depth we have it might push us to 11.”
An 11 man rotation isn’t orthodox, but he’s right when he says they have the depth to support this system. Two players are sure to find minutes after impressing Atkinson this summer–Trevor Booker and Spencer Dinwiddie.
Booker’s a seven-year veteran, coming off a career year with the Nets. He averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds per game.
He’s played very well in the Nets’ two preseason games, providing help on both ends of the floor.
“I love that role for him (coming in providing help on rebounds and defensive energy). That’s not set in stone yet, I haven’t decided – but he brings great defensive energy when he comes in. He rebounds well; he gives us a spark. I felt in the Knicks game he changed that game.”
Dinwiddie hasn’t looked as good on paper, but is leaving it all on the floor no doubt. The Nets head coach vowed to find him minutes this season.
“I’m really just excited about him. I think he’s going to have a really good year. I felt it all summer. I felt him getting better, I felt him getting more confident, I saw him in summer league. We’ve got to find minutes for him, that’s my job.”
Dinwiddie is a third-year guard who spent last season with the Nets. He averaged 7.3 points and 3.1 assists.
The Brooklyn Nets will play their next preseason match against the New York Knicks, Sunday at 7:30 PM EST.
