He may be the quiet man of Esh Group Eagles Newcastle, but Scott Martin has made plenty of noise on the court during his first BBL season.
Amidst the jubilation and screams of delight which reverberated around Sport Central after the final buzzer of the Eagles’ emotionally-charged epic semi-final against Riders, Martin unsurprisingly stood out as an oasis of calmness, amongst widespread celebratory bedlam.
Not that his outward persona doesn’t mean he wasn’t as delighted as any of his Eagles’ colleagues. He most certainly was.
“It’s just that I have always been someone on a pretty even keel and I never really get too high, or too low,” revealed Martin.
“I guess that is much more about my personality, although I accept it translates a little into my game and how I am on the court.”
Stepping off the bench, Martin showed what he was all about in around ninety seconds of action, showcasing his sweet touch and shooting range with eight quick-fire points against Leicester – including a couple of triples.
His skills and displays this season have impressed just about everybody.
Assessing the finalists for the BBL Play-of Final programme on Sunday, London Lions’ play-caller Vince Macaulay revealed he was surprised Martin wasn’t chosen as the Eagles’ Player of the Year.
And, it’s true to say that the former Fighting Irish star certainly hit the ground running when he initially arrived on Tyneside last September.
While some newbies in the Eagles’ nest have struggled to contend with having a player-coach at the helm (and not just any player-coach), it wasn’t a problem for the phlegmatic Martin.
He said, “It was a slight adjustment at first, but after a while you realise that you don’t even think about it anymore.
“We have also had success with it and you just get yourself into the flow of things.
“Besides, the club had experienced tons of success with this method long before I ever arrived,” he said with a smile.
The Notre Dame graduate has rightly received glowing praise from all quarters, including from within the Eagles’ camp.
“Scott has been everything we could have hoped for and maybe even a little bit more,” insisted Assistant Coach, Dave Forrester.
“This is his first year as a pro coming off a pretty serious knee injury and probably the most impressive feature of his game is his consistency.
“He shoots a high percentage, stretches defences and his per-40 minute numbers compare well with anyone in the league.”
So, when others around him are potentially losing their heads at Wembley Arena, look out for Martin whose unflappable game and demeanour make him stand out every bit as much as those who are decidedly more brash and animated.
