Back in the early 2000s, Kenyon Martin and Tim Thomas battled each other in the paint when NBA rules allowed for more physicality during games. Off the court, Martin and Thomas are not particularly fond of each other, and this hostility escalated this week on social media.
Things picked up in earnest when Thomas (a former Knicks center) appeared on “The Real Report” podcast, where he recalled the verbal exchange between him and Martin (a New Jersey Nets star) during the 2004 first-round series between their respective teams.
“It went back and forth in the media, and then he said something that caught my attention. ‘Put us in a room and see who walks out.'”
According to Thomas, the beef nearly got physical when he had a chance encounter with Martin at a New York club.
“He had his back against the wall. We already know what that’s about. [He] don’t want no smoke.”
Thomas also recalled a summertime charity event in which he encountered Martin yet again, this time in a Dallas club. Thomas claimed that he “embarrassed” Martin, a native of Oak Cliff in Dallas county, in his own neighborhood.
Shortly after Thomas’ appearance on the podcast, Kenyon Martin went on Instagram Live to refute his nemesis’ comments.
“You say you came to my own ‘hood and you b**ch in my own ‘hood, basically. That’s a stretch…You say you make me put my back up against the wall, but you see me a week later and you need a pistol? I’m confused.”
Martin went on to claim that “the lady that was hosting the club” asked Thomas to leave the establishment through the service elevator. According to Martin, that woman did not want Thomas to get hurt in that situation.
At this point, it’s difficult to determine which of these former bruisers is telling the truth. However, it doesn’t appear that Kenyon Martin and Tim Thomas will be exchanging Christmas cards any time soon.
“Let’s Congratulate Rashad”: Kenyon Martin Sarcastically Applauds His Podcast Co-Host In Aftermath of Jayson Tatum Return
Elsewhere in Kenyon Martin’s social media activity this week, he took shots at his “Gil’s Arena” co-host who happened to be right about a certain All-Star coming back.
Rashad McCants had said on the podcast that Jayson Tatum should return to the Celtics lineup this season once he recovers from his Achilles injury. Tatum did make a resounding comeback, leading to Martin delivering a not-so-pleasant reaction to McCants’ “opinion.”
“Let’s congratulate Rashad so that he can feel like he won something today.”
Verbal shots like these have become typical of the “Gil’s Arena” crew, but in this case, McCants appears to have gotten the upper hand on Martin.
