Martin was born in Temple, Texas in 1925 and attended the University of Texas, where he was a four-year letterman in basketball. He was an All-American in his senior year and was named to the All-Southwest Conference team three times. After college, he was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1949 NBA Draft.
Martin spent the majority of his career with the Lakers, where he was a key contributor to the team's success. He was known for his defensive prowess and was a great playmaker. He was also a great shooter, and his ability to hit the long-range shot was a key part of the Lakers' offense. He was a five-time All-Star and was named to the All-NBA Second Team four times.
Martin was traded to the St. Louis Hawks in 1958, and he helped the team win the NBA championship in 1958 and 1960. He was named to the All-NBA First Team in 1959 and was a key contributor to the Hawks' success.
Martin retired from the NBA in 1969 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. He is remembered as one of the greatest players of his era and is still revered by basketball fans today.
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