Caleb Martin's Rise to NBA Finals Becomes Latest Heat Undrafted Success Story
U.S. News & World Report DENVER (AP) Caleb Martin was undrafted coming out of college. He entered the NBA with almost no guarantees. He had to play in the G League. Charlotte let him go after two seasons.
Desperate for a second chance, he joined the Miami Heat on a two-way contract to basically start from scratch again.
Thats what it takes for some guys to make the league.
And thats what it took for Martin to make the NBA Finals.
On a Heat team filled with undrafted contributors, Martin stood out and became the breakout star of the Eastern Conference finals. He averaged 19.3 points on 60% shooting, scored a playoff-career-high 26 points on Bostons home floor in Game 7, and the Heat needed it all to oust the Celtics and earn a trip to the title round against the Denver Nuggets.
I definitely reflect on where I started and the journey its taken to get here, and even as early as the two-way last year, Martin said. But I think more than anything, its kind of a weird feeling because Im also understanding that as happy as I am, as grateful I am to be here, I also understand that we have four more. The job is not done. We didnt go through what we went through all the regular season and my personal journey to stop here.
