Sacramento Kings: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

7. Kevin Martin (SG) — No. 26 Pick in 2004 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Kings):  331 GP, 17.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1 SPG, .1 BPG, 1.7 TOV, 44.9 FG%, 38.6 3P%, 85 FT%

Certainly known for his unusual jump shot, Kevin Martin’s humble NBA career all started in Sacramento after spending three seasons playing at Western Carolina University (Martin is just one of five Catamounts to be drafted into the NBA).

After a lackluster rookie season, Martin rose as a vital contributor for the Kings in the 2005-06 season next to Ron Artest, now known as Metta World Peace. During the team’s playoff run that year, their last postseason appearance as of this writing, Martin delivered one of the team’s greatest playoff moments as he sunk a buzzer-beater to stun the San Antonio Spurs for a Game 3 victory in the first round.

From there, the Ohio native went on to do bigger and greater things as he became a 20-plus point per game scorer over his next three seasons. Not only that, but Martin consistently ranked as one of the most efficient scorers during the mid-2000s as he averaged a 59.9 percent true shooting percentage while in a Kings uniform.

However, just as Martin started to blossom into a lead 2-guard, the Kings started to sink into the malaise that has dogged them for over the last decade.

After five and a half seasons, Martin’s tenure in Sacramento came to a close midway through the 2009-10 season when he was traded to the Houston Rockets in a three-way deal that also involved the New York Knicks.