Retired NBA star Kenyon Martin publicly calls out a podcast producer for creating a video that mocks his lifelong speech impediment during a live episode of Gilbert Arenas’ Gil’s Arena podcast.
The Live Confrontation
Martin, 48, interrupts the broadcast to address the issue directly. “Something recently was brought to my attention that one of the people that works here that we see daily and I brought this person into my home, right?” Martin states. “Had this person around my wife, my kids, right? Treated with nothing but respect.”
He emphasizes the betrayal of trust: “This is a loyalty situation. I want people with their kids, teaching situation. When people tell you be careful who you bring into your inner circle, be careful who you bring into your home, this is this situation that I’m speaking of right now.”
Martin summons the producer, known as ‘Suge,’ to the set and shows him the video on his phone. “I need you to do some explaining to me, brother,” Martin says. “So, can you explain this video to me?”
Suge acknowledges the clip: “That’s the video we talked about.” Martin shoots back, “We didn’t talk about s***.” He recalls a prior vague apology at Arenas’ home but notes he dismissed it then due to lack of context. The video reportedly ridicules Martin’s childhood stuttering issue from Michigan, which he calls a “sensitive subject.” “That’s something that I have stated time and time again on this couch, sensitive subject for me, right? I drew a line in the sand a long time ago with this,” Martin declares.
Producer’s Apology Rejected
Suge attempts to apologize, but Martin refuses. “There is no apology ever that as an adult that I would accept for this,” he asserts. “Had I saw it back then, we would’ve had this conversation. Don’t ever be in my presence ever again is what I want.”
Host Provides Context
Arenas later clarifies that Suge created the video long before developing any personal or professional ties with Martin. “Now Kenyon thinks ‘I had you in my house around my family and kids’ but it’s one of those things where it’s like, no it was before,” Arenas explains to viewers.
Martin’s NBA Legacy
Martin earned National Player of the Year honors at the University of Cincinnati in 2000, despite a leg injury that ended his team’s title hopes. The New Jersey Nets selected him first overall in the NBA Draft that year, leading to an All-Star career.
Today, Martin supports his son, Kenyon Martin Jr., who played several NBA seasons and now competes for the Ningbo Rockets in China’s Basketball Association.
