50 Greatest NBA/ABA Players Not In the Hall Of Fame
By Phil Watson
(Photo credit should read DAN LEVINE/AFP/Getty Images)
Even after not playing basketball for a year, the Seattle SuperSonics liked what they saw of Trinity Valley Community College enigma Shawn Kemp to take a flyer with the 17th overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft.
The key word there was “flyer,” which is what Kemp did during his eight seasons in Seattle, earning three All-NBA nods.
He also helped the Sonics to the 1996 NBA Finals, where they fell to the Chicago Bulls. Kemp, a physical presence as a power forward and center, led the NBA in personal fouls in 1993-94 (312) and 1996-97 (320).
He was part of a three-team swap in September 1997, going to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a deal that netted Seattle Vin Baker from the Milwaukee Bucks.
Kemp again led the NBA in personal fouls while in Cleveland with a whopping 371 in 1999-2000.
Another three-team trade in August 2000 sent Kemp to the Portland Trail Blazers, with the Cavaliers getting Chris Gatling, Clarence Weatherspoon and a first-round pick in 2001 from the Miami Heat and Gary Grant from the Blazers.
Kemp agreed to a buyout with Portland in August 2002 and signed a free-agent deal with the Orlando Magic in September of that year.
Kemp went unsigned as a free agent after the 2002-03 season and despite several reports of comeback attempts, Kemp never again played pro basketball.
In 14 NBA seasons, Kemp averaged 14.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals in 27.9 minutes per game, shooting .488/.277/.741.