Last Updated on August 11, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Marty Byrnes carved out an NBA career as a hardworking forward who understood how to contribute in limited roles and stay ready when called upon. He played with a physical edge and team-oriented mindset, qualities that helped him stick around the league for several seasons.

Here’s information about Marty Byrnes:

Player Profile

Full Name: Martin William Byrnes
Nationality: American
Age: Born April 30, 1956
Hometown: Syracuse, New York, USA
Height: 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m)
Weight: 210 pounds (95 kg)
Wingspan: 6 feet 8 inches
Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)
Number: 15, 33, 30, 31 (wore different numbers during his career)
Position: Small Forward / Shooting Guard
High School: Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse, New York)
College: Syracuse University (1974–1978)

NBA Draft: Selected 19th overall in the 1st round of the 1978 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns

Teams Played For:

  • Phoenix Suns (1978–1979)
  • New Orleans Jazz (1979–1980)
  • Los Angeles Lakers (1980)
  • Dallas Mavericks (1980–1981)
  • Indiana Pacers (1981)

Championship Rings: 1 (with Los Angeles Lakers in 1980, though he played only part of that season)

Kids: Not publicly available
Siblings: Not much is publicly known about his siblings

Player Archetype / Play Style

Marty Byrnes’s player archetype was that of a rugged complementary forward who could shift between wing and frontcourt responsibilities, leaning on size, physicality, and a left-handed scoring touch rather than flashy shot creation. Listed at 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds, Byrnes was used as a small forward in the NBA, while Syracuse material describes him as a physical power forward with a nice left-handed shot and strong on-court leadership, which suggests a defensive role built more around toughness, positional work, and handling opposing forwards than gambling for highlights. Offensively, he projects best as a secondary scorer and support piece who could finish plays, rebound his area, and give a lineup a steadier, no-frills style rooted in effort and versatility. (Basketball Reference)

Scouting Report

Marty Byrnes carved out value by understanding exactly where the game was headed before the ball got there. He wasn’t a wing who needed isolation touches or elaborate actions built around him because his offense came from reading the defense a step ahead—sliding into open space after penetration, cutting from the weak side when defenders turned their heads, setting timely screens, and keeping the ball moving until a better option appeared. What stands out is how rarely he forced possessions outside his strengths. If the lane wasn’t there, he’d reverse the ball and relocate rather than dribble into traffic looking for something that wasn’t available. Defensively, Byrnes embraced physical assignments, fighting through off-ball screens, bumping cutters off their line, and staying connected within the team scheme instead of chasing steals that opened holes behind him. The trade-off was that he wasn’t going to create offense late in the shot clock or consistently beat defenders one-on-one, and explosive scorers with elite first steps could put him into recovery mode if isolated in space. Even so, coaches could trust him because he consistently made the possession easier for everyone else. That’s an underrated skill. His ideal role is as a complementary wing next to high-usage creators, where spacing, screening, cutting, and disciplined team defense matter more than individual shot creation. Teams built around structured half-court basketball and ball movement would get the most from him because he understood how to fit into possessions without disappearing from them. To me, there are similarities to Bruce Bowen in the willingness to embrace difficult defensive work, although Byrnes offered a bit more activity as a cutter, while his connective style also echoes Trent Tucker, another player who quietly improved offensive flow by making quick decisions instead of searching for his own offense. — Mat Diekhake, HeatingUp

Fun Facts

  • Marty Byrnes was a versatile wing player known for his work ethic and ability to contribute off the bench.
  • While his NBA career was relatively brief, he played a role on the 1980 Los Angeles Lakers championship team during the early part of the season.
  • After leaving the NBA, Byrnes continued to be involved in basketball at various levels.
  • His connection to Syracuse University remains significant, as he was a standout player during his college years.

Sources:

OrangeHoops — Marty Byrnes
Basketball-Reference — Marty Byrnes Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
The Daily Orange — Lasting Impressions: A look at Jim Boeheim’s 1st moments as Syracuse men’s basketball coach
Bleacher Report — Syracuse Basketball: The Top 50 Players in School History