Martin explains the story behind famous No.53 jersey

The Wildcats announced they were retiring Martin’s jersey on Monday following the stellar contributions the former captain, six-time champion and six-time Best Defensive Player made over the course of his stellar playing career.

Martin wore 55 in the first seasons of his career with the West Sydney Razorbacks and Sydney Spirit, and even wore it for his first game in Wildcats colours, but has revealed it was another former NBL legend who prompted the switch.

“Number five was the number that was given to the second-best player on the team – this is back growing up in Gloucester,” Martin told SEN. “Number four which was your best player was given to Ben Ireland. I wanted to be number four and I remember being livid that I wasn’t the best player on the team.

 

 

 

 

 

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“We had a good season and I fell in love with the number five. Then, when I joined the Wildcats, Martin Cattalini had already played at the Olympics by then, he was coming back to Perth and he wanted the number five and had priority.

“I thought I’d take 55, but then I got a call after my first game – because I did wear it for a game – I got a call from Nick Marvin who was the CEO at a time and he said ‘in case we were to ever retire Cal Bruton’s number, do you mind changing your number?’

“But my girlfriend at that time, her favorite number was three so I figured I’d get some brownie points and go with five and three, so I did.

“Now I like to think I got married on the third of April to my incredible, loving, kind, caring, forgiving life Brittany, so it’s five for early days and three for my anniversary.”

Following the announcement made by Shawn Redhage that Martin’s jersey will be retired, the Wildcats revealed the ceremony will take place on February 4^th – when the club will host its biggest on-court rivals from Martin’s career, the New Zealand Breakers.

At least one of the Wildcats and Breakers contested every NBL Championship Series from 2010-2019, and faced off three times in the decider. New Zealand won in 2012 and 2013, but Martin was named Grand Final MVP in the 2016 series, which Perth won 2-1.

 

 

 

 

 

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Martin says he’s proud the ceremony will be held on February 4^th, but not for any reason associated with his rivalry with New Zealand.

“I love that it’s February 4^th, because that’s my mum’s birthday,” he said.

“As corny as it all sounds, it really did all start with the sacrifices mum and dad made simply getting me to and from training sessions. Gloucester is an hour and a half away from Newcastle, mum and dad had five kids in six years.

“Between them they managed to get me to all these training sessions while still managing to make sure the other four were loved and taken care of. The hours spent in cars, the hours dad would put into work and drive while mum was essentially a single mother of four for two, three, four days a week – all these things came flooding back to me last night and it’s just really fitting it’s happening on mum’s birthday.”