Former Kansas Jayhawks basketball forward Brian Martin from Wichita dies at 62
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- Brian Martin, former KU forward and pro athlete, died at age 62 on Friday.
- Martin played one NBA season and had a 10-year pro career in the CBA and Europe.
- Post-basketball, Martin worked in insurance and banking across Wichita community.
Former University of Kansas men’s basketball forward Brian Martin, who went on to play in the NBA, CBA and Europe for 10 seasons, died on Friday. He was 62.
A 6-foot-9, 210-pound forward and graduate of Wichita Northwest High School, Martin joined the Jayhawks for the 1981-82 season after emerging as a major-college recruit at Hutchinson Community College.
The Fort Smith, Arkansas native averaged 3.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game for coach Ted Owens’ Jayhawks as a sophomore in 1981-82. He then averaged 3.7 points and 4.0 rebounds in 1982-83, Owens’ final season as KU’s coach.
In 1983-84, Martin averaged 5.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest as a senior on coach Larry Brown’s first KU team. Martin served as a captain that season. In 1983-84, Martin’s Jayhawks went 22-10 and won the Big Eight postseason tournament before going 1-1 in the NCAA Tournament.
“Brian was a wonderful teammate. I can’t remember one time we had to get on him for anything,” Owens told The Star on Monday. “His teammates loved him. His coaches loved working with him. He was such a good man and accomplished so much in his life.”
Following his three-year KU career, Martin was selected in the ninth round of the 1984 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. His one NBA season (1985–86) was split with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle SuperSonics. He scored six points and grabbed four rebounds in eight NBA games.
Martin had a 10-year pro career that included stops in Belgium, Germany, Spain and Italy. He played in 252 games over six seasons in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), averaging 9.0 points and 8.7 rebounds combined while playing for six teams. He won a league championship with Tampa Bay in 1985.
“Brian really grew as a player,” Owens recalled of the left-handed shooter. “He kept getting better and better and had an outstanding career.”
Mark Ewing, a KU teammate and roommate of Martin’s from 1981-83, told The Star: “We’ve been as close as brothers ever could be. I was in his wedding, he was in mine.
“As an athlete, I would tell you that Brian had an impressive vertical. Today they would call him a ‘rim protector.’ Back then, we labeled him as ‘Goose,’ which became a term of endearment.
“As a person, Brian brought all of us a joy of the game and enjoyment of life,” Ewing added. “During his professional basketball career, and after, he became a winner as a dad. He and (wife) Jodi raised wonderful children in Alissa, Emily, and Alex. As Brian would have wanted, they all displayed his inner strength in making an agonizing decision to let him go following a stroke (and bout with cancer). Brian will be remembered for many reasons, all of which can never be replaced.”
Martin and his wife returned to Wichita in 2002 when Brian began a career in the insurance business. After 20 years working in the commercial insurance industry, specializing in public education, manufacturing, wholesale, retail, hospitality and home health care, Brian moved to commercial banking.
Most recently he worked as a business development officer for Equity Bank in Wichita.
Along with his duties at Equity Bank, he was involved in the Wichita community. He served on the board of directors for Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was a past president of the Rotary Club of West Wichita (he also sat on its board of directors). He was also a member of the Wichita Manufacturers Association.
A memorial service celebrating Martin’s life is set for 11 a.m. Friday at Ridgepoint Church in Wichita.
Martin was preceded in death by his parents, Malty and Wanda Sue Martin. He is survived by his wife, Jodi Martin; daughters Alissa (Erik) Kusnerus and Emily Martin; son Alex (Shellby) Martin; sister Debbie Bush; brother Keith (Janis) Martin; and grandchildren Braylon Martin, Aiden Kusnerus and Ella Kusnerus.
“Brian enjoyed playing golf and taking care of his yard, but his favorite thing was spending time with his family and always supporting them in anything they did,” reads Martin’s obituary at downingandlahey.com. “Brian was a former member of the Wichita Rotary Club and looked forward to his men’s Bible Study each week. He will be remembered for his generosity, faith, and leadership.”
Memorials in Martin’s name have been established with Victory in the Valley (3755 East Douglas, Wichita, Kansas 67218) and Children’s Mercy (2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64108).
