_(cropped).jpg) Kemp in 2012 | |||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1969-11-26)November 26, 1969 (age 56) Elkhart, Indiana, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 280 lb (127 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Concord (Elkhart, Indiana) | ||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 1989: 1st round, 17th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Drafted by | Seattle SuperSonics | ||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1989–2003 | ||||||||||||||
| Position | Power forward /center | ||||||||||||||
| Number | 40, 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| 1989–1997 | Seattle SuperSonics | ||||||||||||||
| 1997–2000 | Cleveland Cavaliers | ||||||||||||||
| 2000–2002 | Portland Trail Blazers | ||||||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | Orlando Magic | ||||||||||||||
| Career highlights | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NBA statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Points | 15,347 (14.6 ppg) | ||||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 8,834 (8.4 rpg) | ||||||||||||||
| Blocks | 1,279 (1.2 bpg) | ||||||||||||||
Stats at NBA.com  | |||||||||||||||
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Shawn Travis Kemp Sr.[1] (born November 26, 1969)[2] is an American former professionalbasketball player who played for theSeattle SuperSonics,Cleveland Cavaliers,Portland Trail Blazers, andOrlando Magic in theNational Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Reign Man",[3] he was a six-timeNBA All-Star and a three-timeAll-NBA Second Team member. Kemp is widely regarded as one of the bestslam dunkers of all time[4] and made the1996 NBA Finals with the SuperSonics.
Kemp was a member of theUnited States national team at the1994 FIBA World Championship where he won gold and was named to theAll-Tournament team. He was part of a famousPick And Roll duo with All-Star TeammateGary Payton.
Kemp attendedConcord High School inElkhart, Indiana. At the prestigious B/C All-Star Camp on his first day, Kemp outplayed highly regarded prep starTerry Mills. A four-year varsity starter, he was considered to be one of the top four or five players nationally his senior year,[citation needed] and led his team to the state championship finals. Kemp ended his high school career as Elkhart County's all-time leading scorer and the owner of Concord's career, single-game and single-season scoring records.[5] Despite his achievements and accolades, Kemp was bypassed for the title ofIndiana Mr. Basketball as Woody Austin won the award that year instead. (Kemp, however, wasGatorade's choice for state player of the year.)[6] There has been some speculation that Kemp was purposely passed over for the award because he verbally committed to theUniversity of Kentucky and did not express interest in staying in-state to playcollege basketball (Austin committed toPurdue University.)[7][8][9] Kemp was selected to the 1988McDonald's High School All-American team (considered one of the best classes of all time),[10][11] along with such notable players asAlonzo Mourning,Billy Owens,Anthony Peeler, andMalik Sealy. Kemp scored a team-high 18 points for the West in a 105–99 loss.[12]
During his senior year, Kemp signed a national letter-of-intent to play basketball at theUniversity of Kentucky. However, Kemp failed to score the minimum of 700 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test, orSAT, and was forced to miss his freshman year under the NCAA'sProposition 48 rules. Jim Hahn, Kemp's high school coach, did not like the idea of Kemp being in Kentucky without playing basketball, saying "To have Shawn in a college environment without basketball, the one thing he loves, was, I felt, a big mistake. It even crossed my mind to advise him to go right into the NBA and the only thing that stopped me was the fact that so few players have done it."[13] Kemp decided to enroll at Kentucky. However, he left the team in November 1988 after he was accused of pawning two gold chains that had been reported stolen from his teammateSean Sutton, the son of then Kentucky head coachEddie Sutton. Sean Sutton did not press charges but Kemp transferred toTrinity Valley Community College inTexas.[14] After a semester at TVCC, where he did not play, 19-year-old Kemp declared himself eligible for the1989 NBA draft.
TheSeattle SuperSonics drafted Kemp, in the first round of the1989 NBA draft. Although extremely athletic, Kemp was the youngest player in the NBA at that time and struggled to find his place. In his first season in Seattle, Kemp was mentored heavily by teammateXavier McDaniel. As the season progressed, so did Kemp's skills, which propelled him into stardom. Kemp began to find his place in the NBA as a star during his second season with the SuperSonics. Together withGary Payton,Eddie Johnson,Ricky Pierce andNate McMillan, they became a highly successful squad.
After Kemp's second NBA season, he picked up the nickname "Reign Man" after the SuperSonics' announcerKevin Calabro saw a poster with the name and thought it fitting to add to his radio broadcasts.[15]
In 1992 during a playoff game against the Golden State Warriors, Kemp dunked over center Alton Lister, which colloquially became known as "The Lister Blister".[16]
In 1994, Kemp appeared in theMTV Rock N' Jock annual celebrity basketball game.
Kemp's career peaked in1995–96, when he and Payton led the SuperSonics to a franchise-record 64 wins and their firstNBA Finals appearance since 1979. They facedMichael Jordan and theChicago Bulls, who were coming off an NBA record 72 wins. The SuperSonics pushed the heavily favored Bulls to six games before losing. In the Finals, Kemp posted per game averages of 23.3 points on 55% shooting from the field, 10.0 rebounds and two blocks. Shawn Kemp finished a close second in Finals MVP voting, almost becoming the second player to win the award despite being from the losing team.[17]
During his time in Seattle, Kemp occasionally played during the offseason on an outdoor court in Seattle'sBelltown district.[18]
Kemp signed a contract extension with the SuperSonics in 1994. The league's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) precluded any adjustment to that contract until October 1997. He was upset by the situation, but his agent, Tony Dutte, understood that no negotiation was permitted. During this time, the SuperSonics signedJim McIlvaine to a seven-year, $33.6 million contract, exceeding Kemp's salary. Kemp threatened to refuse to play in the upcoming1996–97 season and held out of training camp for 22 days. Despite this absence, Kemp helped lead the SuperSonics to another 50-plus-win season as they dispatched thePhoenix Suns in five games in the first round, only to lose to theHakeem Olajuwon,Clyde Drexler andCharles Barkley-ledHouston Rockets in a seven-game series in the second round of theNBA Playoffs. Following the 1996–1997 season, Kemp was part of a trade sending him to theCleveland Cavaliers,Milwaukee Bucks forwardVin Baker to the SuperSonics, andTerrell Brandon andTyrone Hill from the Cavaliers to the Bucks.
Kemp played three seasons with the Cavaliers where he posted career-high numbers for points per game in1997–98 and led the Cavaliers to theNBA Playoffs, where they faced theReggie Miller-ledIndiana Pacers. The Cavaliers lost to the Pacers in four games despite Kemp averaging 26 points with 13 rebounds per game in the series.
During the lockout shortened 1998–1999 NBA season, Kemp reportedly showed up to training camp weighing 280 pounds, though Cleveland's then general managerWayne Embry revealed that he was actually 315 pounds.[19]
Kemp was then traded to thePortland Trail Blazers after the1999–2000 season, in a three-team trade involving theMiami Heat; the Cavaliers receivedClarence Weatherspoon,Chris Gatling,Gary Grant and draft considerations, while the Heat receivedBrian Grant. The trade reunited Kemp withBob Whitsitt, who had originally brought Kemp to Seattle. However, Kemp's play began to decline significantly. After two seasons with the Blazers, Kemp was waived prior to the 2002–03 season.[20]
Kemp was signed as a free agent by theMagic, and helped the Magic reach the playoffs despite the loss of starting small forwardGrant Hill. During his one season in Orlando, Kemp played in his 1000th NBA game. In their first round series, the Magic took an early three games to one lead before losing to theDetroit Pistons in seven games. Following the 2002–03 season, Kemp was replaced by free agent forwardJuwan Howard.
In April of the2005–06 NBA season, Kemp's NBA comeback chances looked promising.[21] The eventual Western Conference championDallas Mavericks considered adding Kemp to their roster in time for the NBA playoffs. Mavericks' coach, and former SuperSonics' teammate,Avery Johnson scheduled a personal workout to take place inHouston, where Kemp trained for several months. Kemp failed to appear because of undisclosed reasons. The two parties tried to reschedule a workout but the NBA refused to grant Dallas an injury exception (for a 16th player). Kemp did not get a second chance to join the Mavericks that season.[22]
In June 2006, three months after a drug arrest, theDenver Post reported that Kemp had slimmed down to the playing weight of his All-Star days and was determined to join an NBA team, possibly theDenver Nuggets, and finish his career "the right way."[23] The Nuggets ultimately turned their attention away from Kemp, signing power forwardReggie Evans. Kemp drew some interest from theChicago Bulls in September 2006, but missed his scheduled workout.
During the half time of the SuperSonics' game on November 5, 2006, Kemp was announced as one of the 16 members of the SuperSonics' 40-year anniversary team. After having the longest ovation of all the players, Kemp said after the celebration that he would play with a team in Rome and was still considering a comeback to the NBA. Kemp, however, did not secure a position on an NBA roster during the 2006–07 season.
On August 18, 2008, Kemp signed a one-year contract withPremiata Montegranaro ofItalian League. Despite being almost 39, he was said to be in good shape. The Premiata deal came about due to the good relationship between Kemp and Roberto Carmenati, the new Team Director of Montegranaro.[24] Kemp reported to the team, played in three preseason games, then returned to Houston to assess his home for damage fromHurricane Ike. Kemp and Premiata Montegranaro decided to part ways, and the contract was rescinded.[25]
After his active career he tried to bring basketball back to Seattle.[26] Kemp bought a mansion in Seattle in 2003 for $2.4 million, the year he retired from the NBA. In 2008, he listed the property for $3.7 million.[27]
Kemp played for theUS national team in the1994 FIBA World Championship inToronto,[28] where he won the gold medal[29] and was named to theAll-Tournament team along with teammatesShaquille O'Neal andReggie Miller.[30] For the tournament, he averaged 9.4 points on a 68.9% shooting along with 6.8 rebounds, including 14 points and 9 rebounds in the championship clinching game againstRussia.[31]
Kemp has fathered at least seven children with six different women.[32][33] His oldest son, Shawn Kemp Jr., played basketball for theUniversity of Washington and another son, Jamon, played basketball atSoutheastern Louisiana University.[34][35]
Kemp appeared on the 2009 season premiere ofPros vs. Joes. A photograph of Kemp dunking overHakeem Olajuwon appears on the cover ofNBA Jam Extreme.
Kemp was the owner of a sports bar in Lower Queen Anne, Seattle named Oskar's Kitchen. The establishment closed in 2015.[36] Kemp now owns a part of Amber's Kitchen on 1st Avenue in Seattle as well as a controlling interest in several Seattle venues.
In October 2020, Kemp was part of a group that opened acannabis dispensary in Seattle named Shawn Kemp's Cannabis.[37][38][39] He was joined at the grand opening by former teammateGary Payton, whoseCookies brand cannabis strain he sells at the shop.[40]
On April 4, 2005, Kemp was arrested inShoreline, Washington, for an investigation of drug possession. Kemp and another man were found with a small amount of cocaine, about 60 grams of marijuana and a semiautomatic pistol, according to theKing County Sheriff's Office. On April 29, Kemp was formally charged with drug possession and pleaded guilty.[41] Kemp was again arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession inHouston, Texas, on July 21, 2006.[42]
On March 8, 2023, Kemp was arrested inTacoma, Washington, in connection with an alleged drive-by shooting.[43][44] Originally released without being charged, the following month Kemp was charged with first degree assault.[45][46] Kemp pleaded not guilty to the first degree assault charge during a May 4 arraignment hearing inPierce County Superior Court in Washington state. Following the hearing, he was released without bail.[47][48] Kemp later pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, which carries a standard sentence of between three and nine months in prison, with one year of community custody.[49] On August 22, 2025, was sentenced to home confinement on the charges.[50]
Kemp had a cameo inAqua Teen Forever: Plantasm.
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989–90 | Seattle | 81 | 1 | 13.8 | .479 | .167 | .736 | 4.3 | .3 | .6 | .9 | 6.5 |
| 1990–91 | Seattle | 81 | 66 | 30.1 | .508 | .167 | .661 | 8.4 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 15.0 |
| 1991–92 | Seattle | 64 | 23 | 28.3 | .504 | .000 | .748 | 10.4 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 15.5 |
| 1992–93 | Seattle | 78 | 68 | 33.1 | .492 | .000 | .712 | 10.7 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 17.8 |
| 1993–94 | Seattle | 79 | 73 | 32.9 | .538 | .250 | .741 | 10.8 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 18.1 |
| 1994–95 | Seattle | 82* | 79 | 32.7 | .547 | .286 | .749 | 10.9 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 18.7 |
| 1995–96 | Seattle | 79 | 76 | 33.3 | .561 | .417 | .742 | 11.4 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 19.6 |
| 1996–97 | Seattle | 81 | 75 | 34.0 | .510 | .364 | .742 | 10.0 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 18.7 |
| 1997–98 | Cleveland | 80 | 80 | 34.6 | .445 | .250 | .727 | 9.3 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 18.0 |
| 1998–99 | Cleveland | 42 | 42 | 35.1 | .482 | .500 | .789 | 9.2 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 20.5 |
| 1999–00 | Cleveland | 82 | 82* | 30.4 | .417 | .333 | .776 | 8.8 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 17.8 |
| 2000–01 | Portland | 68 | 3 | 15.9 | .407 | .364 | .771 | 3.8 | 1.0 | .7 | .3 | 6.5 |
| 2001–02 | Portland | 75 | 5 | 16.4 | .430 | .000 | .794 | 3.8 | .7 | .6 | .4 | 6.1 |
| 2002–03 | Orlando | 76 | 55 | 20.7 | .418 | .000 | .742 | 5.7 | .7 | .8 | .4 | 6.8 |
| Career | 1,051 | 728 | 27.9 | .488 | .277 | .741 | 8.4 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 14.6 | |
| All-Star | 6 | 5 | 20.0 | .458 | .200 | .750 | 5.8 | 1.7 | 1.0 | .7 | 9.0 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Seattle | 5 | 5 | 29.8 | .386 | .000 | .815 | 7.2 | 1.2 | .6 | .8 | 13.2 |
| 1992 | Seattle | 9 | 9 | 37.6 | .475 | — | .763 | 12.2 | .4 | .6 | 1.6 | 17.4 |
| 1993 | Seattle | 19 | 19 | 34.9 | .512 | — | .809 | 10.0 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 16.5 |
| 1994 | Seattle | 5 | 5 | 41.2 | .371 | — | .667 | 9.8 | 3.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 14.8 |
| 1995 | Seattle | 4 | 4 | 40.0 | .579 | 1.000 | .821 | 12.0 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 24.8 |
| 1996 | Seattle | 20 | 20 | 36.0 | .570 | .000 | .795 | 10.4 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 20.9 |
| 1997 | Seattle | 12 | 12 | 36.8 | .486 | .200 | .829 | 12.3 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 21.6 |
| 1998 | Cleveland | 4 | 4 | 38.0 | .465 | — | .844 | 10.3 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 26.0 |
| 2002 | Portland | 3 | 0 | 11.7 | .286 | — | .700 | 2.7 | .0 | .3 | .0 | 3.7 |
| 2003 | Orlando | 7 | 0 | 10.3 | .381 | — | .833 | 2.1 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 3.0 |
| Career | 88 | 78 | 33.4 | .498 | .200 | .797 | 9.7 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 17.3 | |
Fathering out-of-wedlock kids has become commonplace among athletes, many of whom seem oblivious to the legal, financial and emotional consequences
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