LaRue Martin

The Portland Trail Blazers made Martin the first overall pick in the 1972 NBA Draft. Martin was also the No. three pick of the American Basketball Association draft by the Dallas Chaparrals.[14][15]

The 1972 NBA draft may have been controversially influenced. Chones had signed with the New York Nets of the ABA. It was rumored that North Carolina star Bob McAdoo, the unquestioned best available player available in the draft, had signed with the Virginia Squires of the rival American Basketball Association after a "secret" ABA draft took place, in which names of those drafted were not made public. Reportedly, NBA Commissioner Walter Kennedy advised NBA teams not to draft McAdoo.[16] Other reports were that a contract was signed and voided, because McAdoo was too young to have signed it and the NBA Buffalo Braves somehow knew this.[17] Yet another story was that the Portland negotiated with McAdoo on the eve of the draft but could not meet his demands.[8] Later, McAdoo was noted as the No. 1 pick of the 1972 American Basketball Association Draft.

Buffalo chose McAdoo with the pick behind Martin. The Milwaukee Bucks drafted Julius Erving with the No. 12 pick, but he was already playing in the ABA and remained with the Virginia Squires.[18][19][20][17]

As a rookie in 1972–1973, Martin was 6'11" and weighed 205. In his rookie year, he averaged 4.4 points and 4.6 rebounds in 77 games with limited minutes (12 per game). The Trail Blazers finished 21–61 under Coach Jack McCloskey. When the Trailblazers played at Chicago during his rookie year, McCloskey benched Martin for the entire game. "It was a tough pill to swallow. I was embarrassed. I had tears in my eyes." said Martin, who had numerous family and friends in attendance. "Every time I think about it it haunts me."[21] Martin had similar numbers the next season playing for McCloskey and the Trailblazers were 27–55.[22][4]

Martin reflected on Coach McCloskey. "Jack wasn't a believer in my ability," Martin said. "He came from Wake Forest in North Carolina, and he wanted Bob McAdoo. Hey, Bob was a hell of a player. I know that. Maybe I wasn't the right guy for Jack. So be it. But I never gave him any grief when I was playing for him. I'm not into that. I just kept my mouth shut and did what I was told. I guess it wasn't good enough."[4]

In 1974–75, under new Coach Lenny Wilkins, Martin initially saw his playing time decrease more after the Trail Blazers had selected Bill Walton as the No. 1 pick of the 1974 NBA draft and inserted him in the lineup. However, Martin averaged 7.0 points in 17 minutes and shot .452 from the field, when Walton missed most of the year with injuries. Portland finished 37–45.[23]

Martin was traded from the Trail Blazers to the Seattle SuperSonics before the 1976 season. However, Martin wouldn't play another game after being cut by Seattle before the start of the 1976–77 season. Martin signed contracts with the Cleveland Cavaliers (Sept. 1, 1977) and Chicago Bulls (August 1, 1978). In both cases he was placed on waivers within weeks of signing.[24] Martin also rejected numerous offers to play in Europe.[4][25]

In four NBA seasons, Martin averaged 5.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 271 career games, averaging 14 minutes per game.[26]

Martin's short career at times becomes the punchline to draft jokes. His selection was the predecessor in Portland to other unfulfilled big-man potential in Bill Walton (No. 1 overall pick 1974 NBA draft), Sam Bowie (No. 2 overall pick in 1984 NBA draft selected just ahead of Michael Jordan) and Greg Oden (No. 1 overall pick of the 2007 NBA draft).[27]

“Being a No. 1 draft choice, getting that big zero on your back, you are a marked man,” Martin said at a National Basketball Retired Players Association event. “My career was up and down. They called me the worst draft choice in the nation, and that bothered me. But I had the opportunity to move on and get into the corporate world, and I’ve moved on ever since.”[27]