Hornets forward chats about team’s turbulent offseason, new coach in Observer exclusive
Cody Martin is sporting a new look, but he remains the same.
Although the cornrows the Charlotte Hornets reserve swingman typically wears have been replaced by a more curly hairstyle, perhaps representing a relaxed summer vibe, nothing has changed. An insatiable work ethic was the catalyst for a new experience for Martin: enjoying the perks that come with being a restricted free agent and cashing in on a three-year, $24 million deal.
Cool. Fun. Weird. Pick an adjective, name the emotion and he likely felt it while awaiting word on his future.
“It was probably all of the above,” Martin said “You don’t know what to expect. So I think the biggest thing was just trying to take your time, make sure you are making logical decisions and let stuff play out. And just kind of know what’s important.
“I know a big factor for me was I wanted to come back. At the same time it’s what made sense at the same time, too. So, it was a little weird for me. Especially my first time going around.”
With his contract negotiations in the rearview mirror, Martin can now focus strictly on basketball. He’s a gym rat by nature and insists he still has an appetite to iron out the weaknesses in his game while sharpening his strong suits.
“It’s almost in a sense like relief, but not really,” Martin said. “I think if anything it makes you hungrier. But those teams that invested in you want you to play well, but not only play well and improve as a player. Improve the culture and help influence the young guys that we’ve got here, and help build that foundation that we have here to build something special.”
Martin spoke with the Charlotte Observer about a number of topics, including how the Hornets want to avenge consecutive losses in the play-in tournament, the need for a consistent defensive effort, what he expects from new coach Steve Clifford, and more.
Roderick Boone: You’ve worked hard to get to this point. How much more are you motivated to get that next contract now after securing your first?
Cody Martin: I think a lot of guys might get their first contract and it’s easy for you to kind of get complacent. But I think for me, it just gives you more incentive to reach and strive for that next contract. And not even just the next contract, but improve yourself, improve your game overall. Like I said before, the team that you are at, it shows they are invested in them.
So, I think it’s only right that you give everything you’ve got to that organization as well. And that’s what you’ve got to do before you even get to that contract. That’s the only way to get to it. So, I think that’s important that anybody that signs that first contract realizes that, too. And it’s just something that I’m very appreciative of.
RB: Your game has expanded since you came into the NBA and you were leading the league in 3-point percentage early last season before tailing off. How much do you want to get back to where you were and improve beyond that?
CM: Yeah the game has changed a lot. It’s a lot of three balls. I think for me just because I’ve improved as a 3-point shooter doesn’t mean that I feel like I’m where I need to be. I want to keep improving as a 3-point shooter and become more consistent overall. It’s just about getting the reps in, having that confidence and really just continuing to build and grow as a player individually. And not only build on my shooting, but being able to have intangibles and have skill sets that’s going to be able to put me in positions to have more minutes as well and playing (better) overall and still ultimately focus on the defensive end.
RB: What do you know about coach Clifford, have you spoken to him yet and what do you think he will try to pull out of you this season?
CM: I talked to coach Cliff some and I plan on talking with him more. But I think the nuggets I think I’ve heard before I even had a conversation with him is that he’s somebody who doesn’t play around. He’s very defensive-oriented, but he’s a hard worker and he’s going to try to get the best out of you. He’s kind of like a no nonsense kind of dude. But I feel like that’s going to be important for us because obviously last year defensively we struggled.
We always had it and we showed spurts as a team about how good we could be on defense, but I think us as a team and being able to take a lot of pride in it with this season coming up is going to help us take that next step that we need to compete every single night. So, I think that’s important for us and I think that we are going to take a leap in that direction, and that’s really going to help our game overall.
RB: How much are you guys motivated to improve defensively? Because that is one of the areas the front office cited when they changed coaches.
CM: I think its easy to go into the offseason and only focus on offense. That’s what everybody does for the most part. You want to be able to broaden your skills. But I think for us, we want to make sure that’s something that comes first, especially going into this next season and understand that’s something that we for us to be able to let us compete at a higher level than we where. And I think if we continue to do that and continue to move in the direction that we are going, with making sure that defense is important to us and a priority, I think that it’s really going to evolve our team overall.
RB: A lot has gone on with the team this offseason. How much, as a whole, are you and everyone else looking forward to putting any adversity behind you, getting out on the court and becoming a tighter, closer unit?
CM: It’s unfortunate. It’s a lot going on right now and to be honestly I don’t know the full details. And I don’t think anybody else does. So, I think for me, it’s very hard because these are the times that your teammates need you the most. I don’t know the full story or whatever. I just hope that they are good and their mental is where it needs to be and they are getting the support they need.
And I think like you were saying it’s important for us to move in the right direction and hopefully put these things past us so that we can continue to build as a team overall, and continue to focus on what we need to focus on going into this season. Make sure that we are in the best possible position moving forward and make sure that we are in the best shape, the best mental and best spirits going into the season because that’s something that we are going to need.
RB: I’m sure you guys think you should be a playoff team and the organization believes the talent is there to at least make it to the first round. What about the team’s desires to get to the actual 16-team field and not just in the play-in tournament?
CM: I think especially (since) it’s two years in a row kind of coming up short, really in the same fashion, really I think that kind of puts a fire under us to make sure, No. 1, hopefully we don’t ever put ourselves in that position again to where we have to play in the play-in.
I’ve seen my brother play (Caleb) in the playoffs and their team team (in Miami) and it motivates me. I’ve seen the environment, I’ve seen the intensity level of the games. And I can see our team being there and I can see us competing at a high level. That’s what we need to strive for. And continue to get better and continue to make sure that we are in that category when it comes to playoff time.
This story was originally published July 12, 2022 at 6:12 AM.
