Shawn Kemp

Shawn T. Kemp is a former player of Basket-ball American born the November 26th 1969 in Elkhart, Indiana.

Unloaded in NBA at 19 years without never to have played at the university level, Shawn Kemp, to have called “Reign Man”, will spend one year to explode. In 14 seasons spent in the league, it was essential like one of the strong wingers most spectacular of the history just like one of the players most difficult to manage.

University career

While leaving the college Concord d' Elkhart, Shawn Kemp is registered at the University of the Kentucky from which it is almost immediately excluded for disciplinary reasons. It arrives at Trinity Valley in the Texas during the year, that is to say too late to be able to be aligned in the team of basketball of the university. 19 years old and without to have disputed the least university match, Kemp is declared ready to present itself to the Draft NBA of 1989.

Career in NBA

Glorious years in Seattle (1989-1997)

The Seattle Supersonics take the bet of miser on this young player left nowhere while selecting it in 17th position the draft 1989. For its first season Kemp plays less than 14 minutes but mark already 6.5 points and takes 4.3 rebounds on average. Its name is already on the lips of all the amateurs of spectacular basketball following his participation in the contest of Dunk S of the All-Star Range and in its way of player as not very orthodoxe as explosive. During its second year, the departure of Xavier McDaniel towards the Phoenix Suns opens a more important place with Kemp in a private team of Sonics of star. It benefits then from a match vis-a-vis the Los Angeles Lakers to compile 10 counter, which represents the record of the frankness. By aligning 15 points and 8.4 rebounds of average, it takes an active part in the qualification of Sonics for the playoffs 1991 which they will have left as of the first turn. For its third season in the league, Kemp forms a solid trio of interiors with Michael Cage and Benoit Benjamin. A wound makes him miss 18 matches but its services continue to mark the spirits. Often relegated to the role of 6th man, Kemp leaves the bench to mark on average 15.5 points and 10.4 rebounds. Its statistics go up even at 18.3 points and 12.9 rebounds out of the last 18 matches of the season to the favor of exceptional performances as its 22 points and 21 rebounds at the time of a victory over Charlotte. The playoffs 1992 give the opportunity to him to be presented in the form of one of the feelings of the league. At the time of the first turn gained 3 victories with 1 vis-a-vis the Golden delicious State Warriors, Kemp mark on average 22 points and collection 16.3 rebounds with 2 points with 19 and 20 rebounds which represent the records of these playoffs. Its total of 25 offensive rebounds constitutes even the second best mark of the history for a series in 4 matches.

The season 1992-93 starts under the same auspices with a match at 29 points and 20 rebounds for the opening of the championship vis-a-vis the Houston Rockets. Its performances are worth to him its first selection for the AlStar Range and the first for a player of Seattle since Dale Elect in 1989. Kemp improves in all the sectors of play by marking 17.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.87 counter of average. No Sonic took as many rebounds since Jack Sikma in 1983-84. Supplemented in particular by Ricky Pierce, Gary Payton and Eddie Johnson (Edward Arnet Johnson), the team of Seattle finishes the regular season in 5th position and is presented in the form of serious claiming to the title. Finally of Conference, Sonics push Suns of the Meilleur player of the season Charles Barkley with the 7th match than they lose 123-110 in spite of Kemp equal to itself. The season 1993-94 will make it possible Kemp to prove that it is well one of all the best players of the league in spite of its 24 years. Indeed, he is the best marker (18.1 points) and rebondor (10.8 catches) of the team number 1 of the NBA which gains this year 63 matches. The adventure will stop nevertheless as of the first turn of the playoffs vis-a-vis the Denver Nuggets of Dikembe Mutombo. Meanwhile, Shawn Kemp obtained its second invitation with the AlStar Range as well as a new second place with the contest of dunks and recorded first double triple vis-a-vis Hornets with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 12 master keys. At the summer 1994, Kemp is called to defend the colors of the USA to the championship of the world of which it will bring back the gold medal with 9.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.1 counter in hardly 15.9 minutes of play on average. 1994-95 which constitutes its sixth season in NBA, is the occasion for Kemp to still improve its output. It marks on average 18.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per match and is again titular for the AlStar Range in company of its fellow-members Gary Payton and Detlef Schrempf. Sonics still carry out an excellent regular season with an assessment of 57 victories for 25 defeats but must abdicate for the second consecutive year with the first turn of the playoffs. The series lost vis-a-vis Lakers makes it possible nevertheless Kemp to be emphasized with 24.8 points at 57.9% of success, 12 rebounds, 2 interceptions and 1.75 counter by match.

Kemp carries out its best season into 1995-96 within a team which will be called “Sonic Boom” and will glanera 64 victories for only 18 defeats. At the sides of Gary Payton, Detlef Schrempf, Hersey Hawkins and Sam Perkins, number 40 of Seattle accumulates the performances of choice. It aligns its record at the items (19.6), the rebounds (11.4), the success with the shooting (56.1%) and the time of play (33.3 minutes), by marking at least 10 points and 10 rebounds during 75 of the 79 matches which it disputes and by allowing a point 23 points and 21 rebounds against Dallas. Suspended for the opening of the playoffs, Kemp will lead its team to finales NBA vis-a-vis the Chicago bulldozers of the ghost Michael Jordan. During this final series, “Reign Man” turns at 23.3 points, 10 rebounds and 2 counter by match but cannot prevent the defeat as of his in 6 handles. After having glané its 4th participation in the AlStar Range, Kemp is elected for the 3rd consecutive year in the All-NBA Second TEAM (the 2nd standard team of the league). In 1996-97 and in spite of a fall of mode at the end of the season, Kemp leads the team to the rebounds and constitutes with Gary Payton the duet of attack appointed of Sonics. It marks at least 10 points and 10 rebounds during 72 matches of which 48 of the 49 first of the season but the relations between AlStar and staff worsen suddenly. September 25th, 1997, Kemp is included in an exchange between 3 franknesses and takes the direction of Cleveland whereas Seattle recovers Vin Baker.

The passage to Cleveland (1997-2000)

During its first season with the Riders, Kemp does not lower a mode and leads the team to the mark and the rebounds with averages of 18 points and 9.3 rebounds per meeting. He becomes also the first player of Cleveland to being titular in an AlStar Range during which he marks 12 points, takes 11 rebounds and carries out 3 interceptions. He carries out performances of the same gauge during the season 1998-99 curtailed due to strike of the players. With 20.5 points per match it obtains even the best average of its career exceeding its mark of 1995-96 while finishing with double-double all 42 match than it disputes. In 1999-2000, he is again better marker, rebondor and contror of a team which stagnates in the medium of the classifications and does not reach the playoffs for the second consecutive year. In August 2000, it is the subject of a new exchange and unloads with Portland.

The decline (2000-2003)

At the Blazers, Kemp arrives in a team who skilfully mixes veterans (Scottie Pippen and Detlef Schrempf) and young wolves (Rasheed Wallace and Bonzi Wells in particular). The frankness leaves a final from conference lost vis-a-vis Lakers and offers only a time of play very limited to old Sonic from which the averages fall at 6.5 points and 3.8 rebounds. After 2 average seasons enamelled by problems of alcohol and cocaine, Kemp sees its terminated contract. It launches out a last challenge while signing with the Magic d' Orlando. In the sides of Tracy McGrady, Kemp takes part in 79 matches by marking on average 6.8 points and 5.7 rebounds before taking its retirement after 14 seasons in NBA.

End 2005, it declares with the media that it wants to turn over to the competition and took again the drive, while losing nearly 15 kilos. In spite of the rumors, no club signs it.

Successive clubs

1989 - 1997:
1997 - 2000:
2000 - 2002:
2002 - 2003:

Prize list

6 selections for the AlStar Range (1993, 1994,1995,1996,1997,1998)
3 selections in the AlNBA Second TEAM (2nd standard team of the NBA) in 1994,1995 and 1996
Gold medal with the championship of the world 1994

Statistics in career: 14.6 points/8.4 rebounds/1.6 master keys/1.2 counter in 1051 matches of regular season (+ 88 in playoffs)

Trivia

a legend runs about it according to which it would have, during its youth, smashé in a so violent way on a basket that sparks emerged from the steel net.
Of the tests of paternity proved that Kemp had 7 illegitimate children during his career
Kemp with the practice to disguise itself as a Father Christmas on December 24th to distribute toys to the disinherited children
on April 29th, 2005, the former player was condemned for drug possession

External bond

Statistical detailed on basketball-reference.com
Its page on NBA.com
Reignman.com, the official site of the player
sk40.com, the site of a fan

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