Darrick Martin will sit alongside Bill Roth this men’s basketball season as a radio analyst, athletic director Dan Guerrero announced Tuesday. Martin played as a member of UCLA men’s basketball from 1989 to 1992 and played in the NBA for 13 years following his graduation, serving as point guard for seven teams during his career. Most recently, he served as an assistant coach at St. John’s University in New York. Daily Bruin Sports spoke with Martin about his recent hiring.
Daily Bruin: Congratulations on getting the job. What does this job mean to you?
Darrick Martin: Oh, it’s just exciting to be back in the UCLA fold. I am very thankful. I am very blessed. I am thankful to Dan Guerrero, to the IMG Radio Network and Bill Roth for this opportunity. I’m really excited. I’m really excited about being back in the fold with the UCLA program and watching coach (Steve) Alford add a new flavor to UCLA basketball.
DB: What do you think about the team? What do they need to do to reach an elite level?
DM: Right now, I just started going to practices, so I need to see a few more things. I do like their ball movement. I like how they play up tempo. I think the new guys coming in – (freshman guards) Aaron Holiday and Prince Ali – along with some mainstays that they have with (senior forward) Tony Parker, (sophomore center Thomas) Welsh and (junior guard) Isaac Hamilton, I think they have a pretty good nucleus to be successful.
DB: What have you been doing, or what have you done to prepare for this job?
DM: Well, being at St. John’s the last few years coaching, I have had the chance to see a lot of different games, whether it was for the Big East, for scouting or watching the Pac-12 and keeping up with the Pac-12 players. I know a little about the Pac-12, I am not that far behind as one might think. I will probably watch a lot of film. I will treat (it) as if I am a scout. I will watch a lot of different teams and see what their players are doing. A lot of the young guys I recruited out of St. John’s. So I know them pretty well. I think I will be fine.
DB: What made you want to go from coaching to radio?
DM: (The job) is close to my son. I have a 2 year old. I am excited to be back. The opportunity to be back at UCLA – you know I have to jump at the chance. I bleed blue and gold. I’m excited. I think coach Alford is doing a good thing at UCLA with the men’s basketball program, and I am excited to be part of it.
DB: What do you remember most from your time at UCLA?
DM: Oh, just the camaraderie – the friends I met on the basketball team, going to school, getting my degree. The guys that I played with on the team, we still play golf together. I am actually taking over for Tracy (Murray), so he and I have already had a few conversations about the job, what it requires and what I need to do to prepare.
DB: I just wanted to ask you about the NBA. I noticed that you played under (late Minnesota Timberwolves coach) Flip Saunders. I was wondering your thoughts about his passing?
DM: You know, it kind of threw me through a loop the other day because he and I were close. He gave me my shot on the Minnesota Timberwolves when I got my first call up. I was actually playing for him in Sioux Falls, S.D., for the Sioux Falls Sky Force. So yeah, we had a long history together. (His death) really set me back a bit. I knew he was sick. I just didn’t know how sick he was. We had a conversation earlier in the summer, and I wished him well and how much I appreciate him being in my life. Him giving me my chance in the NBA was a blessing.
Compiled by Korbin Placet, Bruin Sports senior staff.