It’s 2004. The Denver Nuggets are holding an open gym before the season starts.
Kenyon Martin, who has just recently joined the team, is matched up with Nene. Things are getting a little chippy. Martin issues a warning. Nene disregards it, throwing a forearm towards Martin’s head.
In response, K-Mart hits his new teammate with what he later called a “one-hitter-quitter” on Chris Broussard’s podcast.
He knocks Nene so hard that the Nuggets think their starting power forward has suffered a broken orbital bone.
The message was clear: Don’t test Kenyon Martin. Those who chose not to heed that message during Martin’s career (…Corey Maggette) were introduced to #ThemHands.
Which brings us here.
Kenyon is the fourth inductee into The SLAM #ThemHands Hall of Fame, joining Charles Oakley, Tracy McGrady, and Jerry Stackhouse:
Congrats to the fourth inductee into the SLAM #ThemHands Hall of Fame: Kenyon Martin.
You didn’t want to test K-Mart. @KenyonMartinSr pic.twitter.com/oQouneFOL1
— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) June 7, 2018
Congrats to K-Mart on the honor!
Stay tuned for more entries and remember to keep #ThemHands ready.
“#ThemHands” is defined by Webster’s dictionary as the exchange of punches during an altercation in an NBA game, or the preparedness to do so should the moment require such generosity.
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