What a night for Kevin Martin. The dynamic guard for the Kings -- and currently the league's No. 3 scorer -- learned Thursday morning his sore wrist was actually a fractured navicular bone, a pretty brutal injury in terms of risk and recovery. Sources tell FanHouse Martin was strongly recommended by at least two doctors (including Sacramento's team doctor and a separate hand specialist) to undergo reparative surgery or to put the in a cast for 6-8 weeks. The franchise, however, left the decision to Martin, who kept a third option -- play through it wearing a soft cast -- open temporarily.Martin told reporters he'd sleep on it and make a decision Friday. Sanity has prevailed over machismo, and Martin told the Sacramento Bee's Sam Amick today that playing with a soft cast has been ruled out. Martin will either put a hard cast on the arm, or undergo surgery.
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A league insider with specific knowledge of Martin's injury tells FanHouse that doctors told Martin a navicular bone fracture which doesn't heal properly can lead to early onset arthritis, which tends to be problematic to a professional basketball player. Martin is signed with Sacramento through 2012. The Kings, currently 1-4, aren't expected to challenge for anything more notable than the No. 1 pick in the draft this season.
Martin suffered the fracture in Monday's home opener against Memphis. He finished that game with 48 points, and followed it up Wednesday with a 28-point, 11-rebound performance in a losing effort to Atlanta. That Martin played so well before knowing the severity of the injury likely contributed to the guard's consideration of putting off rehab and/or surgery.
Coach Paul Westphal has not announced who will start in place of Martin. The Kings signed Ime Udoka Wednesday, before Martin's MRI. Udoka, 32, has primarily played the two forward positions through his brief NBA career, but is sized like a two-guard. Westphal has attempted to feature rookie starting point guard Tyreke Evans in line-ups with Evans's predecessor Beno Udrih early this season, and that remains a possibility as well. The other option is rookie small forward Omri Casspi, who started in place of Martin for two preseason games.
Martin's actual backup -- fifth-year pro Francisco Garcia -- broke his shooting wrist in a freak exercise ball catastrophe during the preseason. Garcia isn't expected back on the court until February.
