Hoops Habit
Fansided

Oklahoma City Thunder: 25 Best Players To Play For The Thunder

By Phil Watson

May 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; General view of t-shirts lining the seats before the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors in game six of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
May 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; General view of t-shirts lining the seats before the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors in game six of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
23 of 26
Next
16 Jun 1996: Seattle Supersonic Shawn Kemp works to the basket between Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan and Luc Longley during fourth quarter action of game six of the NBA Finals at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls went on to defeat the Seattle Supersonics 87-75 to win the 1996 NBA Finals. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel/ALLSPORT
16 Jun 1996: Seattle Supersonic Shawn Kemp works to the basket between Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan and Luc Longley during fourth quarter action of game six of the NBA Finals at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls went on to defeat the Seattle Supersonics 87-75 to win the 1996 NBA Finals. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel/ALLSPORT /

149. 17th overall pick from Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College, 1989 NBA Draft.. PF. 1989-97. Shawn Kemp. 4. player

Shawn Kemp was a virtual unknown when he came to the NBA, a 1988 McDonald’s All American who wound up committing to the University of Kentucky, but left after an incident in which he was accused of theft.

Kemp wound up at Trinity Valley Community College in Texas, where he didn’t play basketball, and declared for the NBA Draft.

OKC_04_KEMP
OKC_04_KEMP /

The Seattle SuperSonics rolled the dice on the talented big man with the 17th overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft.

Their faith was handsomely rewarded.

Kemp was a five-time All-Star for the Sonics and a three-time All-NBA selection, finishing fifth in the league in field-goal percentage in both 1993-94 and 1995-96, a season in which he also finished fifth in rebounding.

Known for his powerful dunks and aerial acts, Kemp helped Seattle to the 1996 NBA Finals. In the six-game loss to the Chicago Bulls, he averaged 23.3 points, 10 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.3 steals in 40.3 minutes per game, shooting .551/0-for-1/.857.

In September 1997, the Sonics shipped Kemp to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team deal, acquiring Vin Baker from the Milwaukee Bucks.

In eight seasons in Seattle, Kemp averaged 16.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals in 29.8 minutes per game, shooting .521/.276/.730.

Kemp was an All-Star with the Cavs in 1998, but his career began to decline.

In August 2000, he was shipped to the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team deal that also involved the Miami Heat. In September 2002, Kemp signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic.

Unsigned after the 2002-03 season, Kemp was the subject of many comeback stories—none of which materialized, and he did not play again professionally.

He is 48th in NBA history with 1,279 blocked shots.

Next: Reigning Scoring Champion

Home/Oklahoma City Thunder