Kenyon Martin sat solemnly in the cafeteria at Mount Carmel Community Baptist Church with his surgically repaired right knee propped up on another chair and crutches nearby Friday night. With arms from church members stretched out toward the Nuggets forward, Mount Carmel pastor of organization Belinda Haley prayed out loud.
“We decree that both legs, both knees and your posture, your balance line up because we want more. Amen. Hallelujah!” Haley said.
Before passing out 100 Thanksgiving dinners for disadvantaged families at Mount Carmel for the third consecutive year, Martin talked for the first time since his season-ending microfracture surgery Wednesday in Vail. Originally, Martin and the Nuggets expected a routine arthroscopic, not something as extensive as microfracture.
The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Martin said he would “do everything in his power to play” during the 2007-08 season. But unlike after microfracture surgery on his left knee in the summer of 2005, Martin plans on being more patient with his recovery.
He said he would be on crutches for a few weeks, then plans on being back on the bench, traveling with the team and also doing some coaching.
“I’m going to take it easy,” Martin said. “Even before I knew I was going to get the microfracture I wasn’t going to rush it back. I’m doing everything to a tee that they’re telling me.
“As long as I keep my mind well and my focus, I’ll be all right.”
Martin returned to play at the beginning of last season following microfracture surgery on his left knee in the offseason. The Dallas native has said he shouldn’t have returned until January 2006 for last season instead of from the start. The top pick in the 2000 draft missed 22 games last season because of problems with his left knee.
Several athletes have returned from microfracture surgery, but Martin could be the first to return from the surgery on both knees.
“I’ll be the first to overcome two, that’s what I keep telling myself,” Martin said. “There’s a first time for everything. People told me when I broke my leg in college (at Cincinnati) that I would never play again.
“I was the No. 1 pick. I’ve overcome stuff in this life much worse than this leg, man. It won’t hold me back, man.”
Martin knows it could be a lot worse.
He is being paid $12 million this season and he is giving away Thanksgiving dinners, not in need of one. In fact, Martin said he was asked to stay in Vail after surgery until today but returned early to pass out the coveted dinners.
“It puts everything in perspective,” said Martin, about being at Mount Carmel. “It’s the time of giving back. Thanksgiving is coming up. … I just want to let these people know I still care even though I’m under the weather a little bit. It’s not going to change Kenyon.
“This is my third year doing it and I’m going to continue to do it as long as I’m here (in Denver).”
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-954-1098 or mspears@denverpost.com.
