In a stunning turn of events, Miami Heat guard Caleb Martin left an indelible mark on Monday’s Eastern Conference Final Game 7 against the Boston Celtics. Martin, making his first start of the series, played an impressive 45 minutes, netting 26 points on 11-of-16 shooting and securing 10 rebounds. The Heat’s 103-84 triumph guaranteed their spot in the NBA Finals, where they are set to battle the Denver Nuggets starting Thursday night.
Hailing from Mocksville, North Carolina, Martin attended Oak Hill Academy in Virginia before launching his collegiate career at North Carolina State in 2014. After two seasons, he transferred to Nevada, where he thrived following a year on the sidelines due to NCAA transfer rules. With the Wolf Pack, Martin was honored as Mountain West Conference Player of the Year and increased his scoring average to 19.2 points per game in his senior season.
Despite his collegiate achievements, Martin went undrafted in 2019, but his twin brother, Cody, was chosen by the Charlotte Hornets in the second round. Caleb Martin eventually signed with the Hornets as an undrafted free agent but was let go before the 2021 season.
The Heat brought Martin on board with a two-way contract in September 2021. He played 60 games with the team, averaging 9.2 points as a significant contributor off the bench. This performance earned him a three-year, $20 million deal, during which Martin set career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and minutes played, starting 49 games.
An intriguing connection played a role in Martin’s ascent to the Heat. After being released by the Hornets, he found himself training at a gym owned by Grammy Award-winning rapper and fellow North Carolina native J. Cole. The rapper contacted former NBA player and Heat assistant coach Caron Butler, who informed The Charlotte Observer that the Heat were constantly on the lookout for talent upgrades.
J. Cole’s intuition in identifying Martin’s potential turned out to be pivotal. Butler invited Martin to an open scrimmage in the summer, where he demonstrated his worth and secured his place on the team. With the Heat gearing up for the NBA Finals, Caleb Martin’s remarkable Game 7 showing has etched his name into the minds of NBA fans everywhere.
