Shawn Kemp was one of the most popular and productive players of the 1990s. He came straight out of high school as Seattle’s First Round with the body of a Greek God and was considered one of the best pure athletes in the NBA. Kemp struggled as a rookie, but the Power Forward averaged over 15 Points and 9 Rebounds over the next two years while adopting the nickname of the “Reign Man,” one of the best nicknames of the sport.

Along with Gary Payton, Kemp and the SuperSonics emerged as contenders.  Seattle won the Western Conference Finals, though they lost to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.  Though Kemp did not win a title with Seattle, from 1992-93 to 1996-97m he was one of the best players in the game.  In that five-year period, Kemp was a perennial All-Star, earned three Second Team All-NBAs and averaged well over a double-double with strong blocking numbers.   The Cleveland Cavaliers traded for Kemp in 1997, but before long, it was evident he was not the same “Reign Man.”

Kemp was still a very good player in his first two years with the Cavaliers, adding a sixth All-Star in 1997-98, and had a career-high 20.5 Points per Game the year after.  While he was still productive, his weight was becoming a problem, and as he got older, it became a bigger problem.  Kemp was traded to Portland, and was unable to average 10 Points per Game and was demoted to the bench.  He played two years there, then a final one in Orlando before he retored.

Kemp’s recent legal troubles involving a connection to a drive-by shooting won’t help his Hall of Fame cause, as did other past drug arrests, and his weight problems.  That should not negate what he did accomplish on the court, which was very impressive.