Slater Martin

Five-time NBA champion and Hall of Fame guard known for tenacious defense.

Slater Nelson "Dugie" Martin Jr. (October 22, 1925 – October 18, 2012) was an American professional basketball player and coach who was a playmaking guard for 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). A seven-time NBA All-Star, he won five championships. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Quick Facts

Born: 22 October 1925
Birthplace: Elmina, Texas, U.S.
Died: 18 October 2012
Place of death: Houston, Texas, U.S.
High school: Jefferson Davis (Houston, Texas)
College: Texas (1943–1944, 1946–1949)
Draft league: BAA
Draft round: 3

Lore & Background

Martin was born on October 22, 1925, in Elmina, Walker County, Texas. His father gave him the nickname "Dugan" early in life, after a character in the Maggie and Jiggs comic strip; Martin did not realize his name was actually Slater for years. The nickname became "Dugie" when he went to Minneapolis to play for the Lakers. His grandmother got him interested in basketball and conducted review sessions after his high school games. He led Jefferson Davis High School (now Northside High School) in Houston to two state basketball championships in 1942 and 1943, at 5 ft 7 in and 130 pounds. He won All-State honors both years. He played college basketball at the University of Texas at Austin, serving in the Navy during World War II. He was known as a defensive specialist and a forerunner of the modern point guard. He was the first NBA player to be on five championship teams.

Reader's Guide

Martin was selected in the third round of the 1949 BAA draft by the Minneapolis Lakers. He played for the Lakers from 1949–56, winning four NBA championships (1950, 1952, 1953, 1954). He was an All-Star four consecutive years for the Lakers (1952–53 to 1955–56) and second-team All-NBA in 1954–55 and 1955–56. He was traded to the New York Knicks on October 26, 1956, then to the St. Louis Hawks on December 12, 1956. With the Hawks, he won an NBA championship in 1958. He was a starting guard in the 1957 All-Star Game and second-team All-NBA for the 1956–57 season. He was again second-team All-NBA and an All-Star starter in 1958–59. He finished his career in 1960 with the Hawks, serving as team captain. Over his career, he scored 7,337 points in 745 games (9.8 points per game), with 3,160 assists and 2,302 rebounds. He was in the NBA top 10 in assists six times.

Did You Know?

He had a 311 consecutive game playing streak for the Lakers, missing only four games in seven years.
Martin was the only player to win an NBA championship with the Hawks during the 10-season period from 1956–57 through 1965–66 other than the Boston Celtics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Slater Martin and what was his role with the franchise?

Slater Martin served as the starting point guard for the Minneapolis Lakers from 1949 to 1956, acting as the floor general who guided the team through their transition from the NBL to the NBA. He secured five championships during this era, earned seven All-Star selections, and led the league in steals four times.

How many championships and All-Star appearances did Slater Martin achieve?

Martin won five NBA championships with the Minneapolis Lakers in 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, and 1954. His excellence on the court also earned him seven consecutive All-Star selections during his tenure with the franchise.