Shawn Kemp

[Andrew]

Shawn Kemp did not play for an NBA team for the first time since entering the league in 1989 this past season. After watching his decline post-1998, it's amazing to think that he was once considered one of the most exciting players and talented forwards in the NBA, often used in promotional media and frequently featured in the highlight reels.

The question on my mind is, in his heyday could Shawn Kemp be considered a superstar?

In terms of his statistics, most people would probably answer no. Although they made him a top 10 forward from about 1992 to 1998, his career numbers are not quite up to the same level as the great forwards throughout history. Since he failed to win a championship, some might simply dismiss him as an All-Star player on a good team rather than assigning him "Superstar" status.

But I would argue that other elements define superstar players, at least in terms of their own era. Compared to the legends of the NBA, Kemp may not be a superstar or a candidate for the title of "Best We've Ever Seen", but in terms of the era he played in, I think he can be labelled a superstar.

Consider his popularity. A home video ("Shawn Kemp: The Reignman") was even released, chronicling his career up until 1995. The video was part of the NBA's "Superstars" series which included profile videos for players such as Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Now, it would be foolish to judge a player's status by the label on a video, but it is an example of the other element that can make a player a superstar.

Shawn Kemp was a very popular player in the mid 90s. Replicas of his jersey generally sold well, with his athletic ability and spectacular dunks winning him many fans. His continued improvement throughout the first five or six years of his career established him as one of the league's top power forwards and made him a fixture on the All-Star team.

Such accomplishments might not gain entry to the Hall, they might not place someone in that elite group considered to be basketball's finest, but they do make a player significant to an era in NBA history. Shawn Kemp is one of those players that in his best years was a special player in the NBA. He is one of those players who will be brought up when the 1990s are discussed.

I think Kemp qualifies as a superstar of the mid 90s, similar to Grant Hill and Anfernee Hardaway. Even though he may not have lived up to all the expectations once he established himself as an important player in the NBA, he remains a significant player in his own era.

Does anyone else have some thoughts about the Reignman and his place in NBA history?

[hmm]

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[Rens]

Kemp of the mid nineties in today's league would be one of the top PFs still. Watching him go coast to coast crossing over and behind the back and finishing with the dunk... oh yeah baby (all twelve of them)

[Andrew]

And about his past, he was once a great player. He was as athletic as Garnett today.He,Payton and the german(i remember the name but i cant spell it ) was a great trio.

Detlef Schrempf.

But especially after getting knocked out in 94 playoffs in 1 st round by Denver(8th seed).(not sure about the exact date) They got in a shock and never got recovered. They still played great.But it was over.

I'd have to disagree there, after all they did make the NBA Finals in 1996.

[hmm]

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[Andrew]

That's true, the Supersonics of 1994 were a pretty strong team but were knocked out by Denver in the first round (after going up 2-0 in the first two games). I still think the Rockets would have won that season though.

[hmm]

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[Clinton]

There was only one other power forward apart from Kemp who could have claimed to have been better from the early 90's till '97-'98 and that was Karl Malone. He may not have had the high scoring average that Malone had, but Malone wasn't playing with Gary Payton, who was putting up 15+ppg. Kemp could have easily averaged 25+ if he was playing with John Stockton.
Kemp was the early '90's version of KG. He opened the door for guys like KG to come straight out of high school and become a star. He may not have been quite as complete a player as KG, but he was close. He had moves that most big men of that era could only dream of pulling off. I agree with Rens, the mid-nineties Kemp would still be one of the best forwards in the league today.

[Rens]

One could at least argue for Charles Barkley as well.. and there are probably some more I can't think of right now.

[Robby]

During the 90's, only Karl Malone could claim to be a better Power forward than Kemp. As for his numbers not being that high, that would be because almost every year he played in Seattle, Payton averaged more points than him. The one year Kemp put up more points than Payton, Seattle went to the NBA Finals and almost took out the Bulls. If I remember correctly, out of the 11 votes for Finals MVP, Kemp got 3 and Jordan got six. I'd say that's a pretty impressive showing. If Payton had been unselfish, Seattle most likely would have gotten at least one ring and even the Lakers of this past year would have won.

Unfortunately for Kemp, in 1997, he was in desperate need of money, due in large part to his child support responsibilities and he had to get more money which the Sonics couldn't give him. Obviously the contracts of Gary Payton and Jim Mcilvain also had a big hand in Kemp leaving. It's too bad all of that had to happen because he was becoming one of the best P.F. of all time.

[hmm]

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[GloveGuy]

As for his numbers not being that high, that would be because almost every year he played in Seattle, Payton averaged more points than him. The one year Kemp put up more points than Payton, Seattle went to the NBA Finals and almost took out the Bulls. If I remember correctly, out of the 11 votes for Finals MVP, Kemp got 3 and Jordan got six. I'd say that's a pretty impressive showing. If Payton had been unselfish, Seattle most likely would have gotten at least one ring and even the Lakers of this past year would have won.

Payton was only third in the team in scoring in 93-94, the year they lost to Denver. I'd hardly say you can put them blame on him, calling him selfish. I mean, he was the second best PG of the 90s. I'm pretty sure he even shot over .500 the year that he led the Sonics in scoring.

Anyways, Kemp was a superstar. His stats were never the best but that was usually because he had two other all-stars on his team. But I remember that 95-96 Finals, and he was one of the two dominant players on that court. I remember the whole drama he started after the 96-97 season with the Seattle management -- fighting with him, not showing up to Payton(his best friend)'s wedding, and then getting traded for Vin Baker.

[FanOfAll]

In the 90s as a whole, I disagree with some of you. Sir Charles can compete with Kemp if it's the early 90s. But not as much so in the mid and late 90s.

Was Kemp a superstar? Well IMO that really depends on your definition of a superstar. Not many superstars win championship rings. Personally, I was a huge Kemp fan back in the day so I'm probably a bit biased in my judgment...

[joe man]

so whats gonna happen to kemp?

is he still going to be in the NBA and why didnt he play this past year?

[J@3]

Because he's fat and lazy. Seemingly has no interesting in getting into any sort of shape whatsoever.

[GloveGuy]

I think Kemp's playing in the USBL with James Lang and Brent Price. There was a SLAM article on that team a few issues ago.

[Sauru]

in the early 90's you definetly have to take sir charles over kemp. kemp was the more exciteing/flashy player but barkley was hands down the better player.

as far as anyone else being listed over kemp, i personally cant think of 1 right now. i wont say kemp was definetly 3rd best pf in the game in the early 90's but i will say he was easily up there and just might be the 3rd. seeing as i cant think of another right now i guess i gotta give him 3rd.

[Amphatoast]

kemp was a great player back in the 90s. But as with a few other notable players who looked Hall of Fame bound, like Grant Hill, Penny, and McDyess ( he was getting very good), for one reason or anther their Hall of Fame careers went down the drain.
but as said before, it is time for him to retire. Too fat, too old, not enough time to get back to 90s form, time to go, be the next tiger woods or something.

[Sauru]

once upon a time vin baker was damn good too. hell imo when the trade happened i thought the sonics got the better of it. unfortunatly after both were traded they both become incredibly out of shape and no longer had the drive to be what they once were.

[Amphatoast]

yeah those 2 both went in the same direction and it wasn't on the court problems like injuries, it was off court issues, food &

[ATTENTIONWHORE]

Good thing there's NBA TV and Roster Patches to keep the memories alive...

[Andrew]

Does anyone have any favourite Shawn Kemp moments? Two dunks from the 1996 season stand out in my memory: his dunk over Antoine Carr that was #1 in NBA Action's Dunks of the Year Countdown and his reverse dunk over Dennis Rodman in the Finals.

[Riot]

Kemp in cleveland was one of my favorite players. Back in the day.

[magius]

kemp was a superstar during his era, but not a superstar in terms of evaluating the nba's historical superstars as a whole. i think barkley was better than kemp, but thats just me.... i would be tempted to pick kemp over barkley for his size though.

[Stevan]

I remember that dunk on Antoine Carr, man Kemp got up high on that one!

He was still productive early in Cleveland and the Cavs made the playoffs... back in the days when it looked like their young team of Brevin Knight, Derek Anderson, Cedric Henderson and veteran Shawn Kemp would become a good team. Ilgauskas had also just come into the league though he didn't play much, and I can't remember if they still had Bobby Phills. They had Bobby Sura throwing down some nasty shit! (I think). I was keeping an eye on that team, I thought they had potential.

I think the lockout contributed much to Kemp's problems. He really didn't look bad his first season in Cleveland, perhaps he put on a little bit of weight, but to me it didn't seem significant. Like many players, he ballooned during the lockout.