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50 Greatest NBA Players Without A Championship (Updated Through 2015-16)

By Phil Watson

May 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) shoots over Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) shoots over Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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SEATTLE, UNITED STATES: Shawn Kemp (R), of the Seattle SuperSonics, grabs a rebound from Dennis Rodman of the Chicago Bulls 14 June during first half of game five in the NBA Finals at Key Arena in Seattle. The Bulls lead the series 3-1. AFP PHOTO/Dan LEVINE (Photo credit should read DAN LEVINE/AFP/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, UNITED STATES: Shawn Kemp (R), of the Seattle SuperSonics, grabs a rebound from Dennis Rodman of the Chicago Bulls 14 June during first half of game five in the NBA Finals at Key Arena in Seattle. The Bulls lead the series 3-1. AFP PHOTO/Dan LEVINE (Photo credit should read DAN LEVINE/AFP/Getty Images) /

30. Shawn Kemp

Seattle SuperSonics 1989-97, Cleveland Cavaliers 1997-2000, Portland Trail Blazers 2000-02, Orlando Magic 2002-03

“The Reign Man” burst onto the NBA scene as the 17th overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft out of Trinity Valley Community College in Texas, taken by the Seattle SuperSonics.

Kemp was a three-time All-NBA pick and a five-time All-Star for the Sonics and was seventh in the MVP voting in 1993-94 and eighth in 1995-96.

Seattle progressed steadily, making the playoffs in 1991 and reaching the second round in 1992, where they were dropped by the Utah Jazz in five games. In 1993, they took another step, beating the Houston Rockets in a Game 7 to get out of the second round, but losing Game 7 on the road to the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals.

In 1994, despite the best record in the NBA, the Sonics became the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 8 seed in the first round, losing a Game 5 at home to the Denver Nuggets.

After another first-round exit in 1995, Seattle swept Houston in the second round, took a Game 7 from the Jazz to win the Western Conference Finals, but eventually lost to the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals.

The Sonics lost to the Rockets in Game 7 of the second round in 1997 and in September of that year, Kemp wound up traded to Cleveland as part of a three-team trade involving five players and a draft pick.

With the Cavaliers, Kemp was an All-Star in 1997-98, which was also the only season of the three Kemp was with the Cavs that they made the playoffs, losing in the first round.

In August 2000, Kemp was again part of a three-team trade. This one included five players and a draft pick, as well, and Kemp ended up with the Trail Blazers.

He missed the playoffs in 2001 after entering drug rehab and Portland was swept in the first round in 2002.

Kemp signed as a free agent with the Magic in September 2002, but they lost to the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the playoffs in seven games after taking a 3-1 series lead.

Kemp was out of the NBA after that, despite a couple of comeback attempts that didn’t pan out.

Kemp is currently owner of a Seattle sports bar.

The final tally on Kemp’s playoff career:

NBA Finals: 0-1
Conference Finals: 1-1
Conference Semifinals: 2-2
First Round: 4-6

Next: 29. Wooden’s Last Legend