It wasn’t to be for the Miami Heat, trying to withstand an uber-competitive Memphis Grizzlies team on Monday, as they dropped the first of a three-game homestand at FTX arena. Searching for momentum after falling to 14-11, the Heat will look to contend with several injuries across their roster.
Nonetheless, there have been a few bright spots for Miami and albeit losing four of their last five outings. Most especially, it’s been from their second unit.
They’ve showcased great energy for a Heat team that’s needed it most and the spotlight goes no further than one of Miami’s two-way talents, Caleb Martin.
A defiant, yet highly confident wing player, Martin has given the Heat some valuable minutes as a rotational piece with enough versatility to run the floor, defend, and shoot open perimeter shots. As a slasher, he’s also capable of putting it on the floor to attack, often attempting close shots and not seeking to avoid contact.
It’s as much as you could ask for a 26-year-old guard with hopes of being converted to a standard NBA contract later this season and adding punctuation to his case, he’s excelling in that role with some outstanding plays.
Most frequently for the Miami Heat’s iteration of a Martin Twin, he’s emerged as a highlight dunker.
Caleb Martin highlight reel dunks are becoming a nightly thing@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/lbwg5DZQKx
— Bally Sports Florida & Bally Sports Sun (@BallySportsFL) December 7, 2021
Standing at 6’5 with a 6’10” wingspan, Martin has the prototypical frame for an NBA athlete, which he’s immediately shown here in the first handful of games in Miami.
He recorded a 36.5 vertical at the 2018 NBA Draft Combine, which is still 8.5 inches more than the average vertical for NBA players — 28 inches.
Regardless, he’s compounded that awesome amount of length with an uncanny ability to fly. Martin takes off from a couple of feet from the painted area, extends to finish in the lane, and holds no regard for challenging rim protectors.
As he’s done it consistently and in an exciting manner, he should be earning votes and the eyes of those that matter in order to participate in a certain festivity at 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend — The NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
For an event that’s lost its excitement and prestige over the last few seasons, it’s worth a shot to grant an opportunity to one of Miami’s top athletes to perform in a venue of such.
Martin doesn’t have many creative finishes, which is indeed a big deal for one of the most anticipated traditions in basketball but is a fearless dunker.
That, alone, is a trait and reason to insert him into the event. So far, he’s been a launching pad that the Heat haven’t had since late 2020, which wasn’t long after Derrick Jones Jr. took home the Dunk Contest honors.
There’s no coincidence there either, as that was when he was an essential piece to Miami’s run in the 2020 Playoff Bubble, all in the same season. While Martin likely wouldn’t be a finalist as Jones Jr. was, it just seems that he has the stuff to prove that he is more than just an in-game dunker.
Caleb Martin can fly 🤯@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/M6iv0BBQi9
— Bally Sports Florida & Bally Sports Sun (@BallySportsFL) December 5, 2021
As the Heat currently have Bam Adebayo out indefinitely, their franchise center has led in total made dunks, and by a wide margin. Martin won’t get the volume to challenge that while Bam sits though— or will he?
The two players after Adebayo, holding the second and third most dunks are the Miami Heat’s leading scorer, Jimmy Butler, and you guessed it— Martin himself.
While Butler isn’t the most explosive of athletes, he gets several opportunities to dunk in transition or as a cutter. Much of the same could be said for Martin, although he isn’t as experienced at making those certain reads that allow Jimmy to take advantage of the openings as he does.
It’s always a pleasure to see Miami have involvement at any All-Star weekend, but with the effects of their current team injuries, some players may miss that opportunity. Back in 2020, the Heat were productive during the events.
From Adebayo being named a first-time All-Star in 2020 and winning the Skills Challenge along the way, to Duncan Robinson partaking in the Three Point Contest, it was a great sight to behold. As far as the upcoming festivities, it could pave the way for an underground talent to jump further onto the scene, as Martin is exactly that.
In 22 games, Martin has averaged 6.7 points on 46 percent shooting from the field. While playing 18.9 minutes per game, he finds himself in the top five in Plus/Minus for the Miami Heat.
He even holds the third-highest Defensive Rating for all Heat players after Gabe Vincent and Adebayo, the organization’s defensive anchor. If Caleb continues to showcase his length and athleticism at this rate, the highlights will continue to accumulate where they matter, the real games.
However, an appearance at the 2022 All-Star Weekend should be considered for a truly graceful athlete and besides, it’d just be super awesome for him, the Miami Heat Faithful, and the league.