In a surprising and somewhat humorous revelation, former NBA wing Jeremy Lamb recently appeared on the Run Your Race podcast and shared a story that left fans scratching their heads and laughing in equal measure. According to Lamb, veteran shooting guard Kevin Martin, known for his unorthodox jump shot and quiet scoring prowess, would intentionally stop scoring during games just to avoid being selected as an NBA All-Star.
“Kevin Martin would literally slow down if he was getting too hot,” Lamb said during the interview. “Like, we’d be in a game, and he’d already have like 25, 26 points going into the third, and all of a sudden, he’d just stop being aggressive. I asked him about it one time, and he straight-up told me, ‘I don’t wanna be an All-Star, man. That’s too much attention. Too much pressure.’”
Martin, who played 12 seasons in the NBA from 2004 to 2016, was a consistent 20-point-per-game scorer in his prime, suiting up for teams like the Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite his efficiency and impressive scoring averages, Martin never received an All-Star nod — something many fans at the time considered a snub. But if Lamb’s story is to be believed, it might’ve been by design.
A Quiet Star in the Background
Known for his unflashy game and mild-mannered demeanor, Kevin Martin was never the type to chase headlines. He had a textbook understanding of how to get buckets efficiently — whether it was drawing fouls, cutting without the ball, or draining threes — but he stayed out of the limelight for most of his career.
Martin averaged over 20 points per game five times in his career, including a career-high 24.6 PPG with the Kings in 2008–09. That year, many expected him to be in the All-Star conversation. However, he was consistently overlooked in favor of more high-profile, flashy guards in a stacked Western Conference. At the time, fans chalked it up to market size or a lack of media buzz. Lamb’s story, though, offers an entirely different perspective.
“He just didn’t want that kind of attention,” Lamb continued. “He said being an All-Star means more eyes on you, more media, more expectations. He liked flying under the radar, just doing his thing.”
Fans React with Shock and Amusement
The clip from the Run Your Race podcast quickly went viral on social media, sparking a range of reactions from fans and former players. Some were stunned that a player would ever try to avoid All-Star status — something most athletes dream of. Others weren’t too surprised, citing Martin’s low-key personality and no-frills playing style.
“Kevin Martin not wanting to be an All-Star is the most Kevin Martin thing ever,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Dude really averaged 23 a game off 11 shots and just clocked out.”
Another user joked, “He must be the only man in history who saw an All-Star jersey and said, ‘Nah, I’m good.’”
The All-Star Question Revisited
While Lamb’s story hasn’t been confirmed by Martin himself, it does raise interesting questions about how we view success and ambition in the NBA. Not every player wants the fame, the endorsements, or the spotlight that comes with being an All-Star. For some, like Martin, it seems the love of the game — and the peace that comes with avoiding the chaos — was enough.
Martin quietly retired in 2016 with over 12,000 career points, a reputation as one of the most efficient scorers of his era, and apparently, zero regrets about missing out on All-Star Weekend.
