View source for Shawn Kemp

{{Short description|American basketball player (born 1969)}}
{{For|the American record producer who goes under the "Shawn Kemp" alias|Lil Ugly Mane}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Shawn Kemp 
| image = Shawn Kemp (9523772347) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Kemp in 2012
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1969|11|26}}
| birth_place = [[Elkhart, Indiana]], U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 10
| weight_lbs = 280
| high_school = [[Concord High School (Elkhart, Indiana)|Concord]] (Elkhart, Indiana)
| draft_year = 1989
| draft_round = 1
| draft_pick = 17
| draft_team = [[Seattle SuperSonics]]
| career_start = 1989
| career_end = 2003
| career_position = [[Power forward]] / [[center (basketball)|center]]
| career_number = 40, 4
| years1 = {{nbay|1989|start}}–{{nbay|1996|end}}
| team1 = [[Seattle SuperSonics]]
| years2 = {{nbay|1997|start}}–{{nbay|1999|end}}
| team2 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| years3 = {{nbay|2000|start}}–{{nbay|2001|end}}
| team3 = [[Portland Trail Blazers]]
| years4 = {{nbay|2002|full=y}}
| team4 = [[Orlando Magic]]
| highlights =
* 6× [[NBA All-Star]] ({{nasg|1993}}–{{nasg|1998}})
* 3× [[All-NBA Second Team]] ({{nbay|1993|end}}–{{nbay|1995|end}})
* [[McDonald's All-American Game|McDonald's All-American]] ([[1988 McDonald's All-American Boys Game|1988]])
* First-team [[Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team|''Parade'' All-American]] (1988)
* Second-team ''Parade'' All-American (1987)
* Fourth-team ''Parade'' All-American (1986)
| stats_league = NBA
| stat1label = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| stat1value = 15,347 (14.6 ppg)
| stat2label = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
| stat2value = 8,834 (8.4 rpg)
| stat3label = [[Block (basketball)|Blocks]]
| stat3value = 1,279 (1.2 bpg)
| medal_templates = {{MedalSport| Men's [[basketball]] }}
{{MedalCountry| the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Basketball World Cup|FIBA World Championship]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1994 FIBA World Championship|1994 Canada]]| Team competition }}}}

'''Shawn Travis Kemp Sr.'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19940222/1896633/all-star----shawn-kemp|title=Shawn Kemp – All-Star|date=February 22, 1994|publisher=[[The Seattle Times]]|work=seattletimes.com|access-date=November 27, 2014}}</ref> (born November 26, 1969)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shawn Kemp Stats|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kempsh01.html|access-date=2020-11-07|website=Basketball-Reference.com|language=en}}</ref> is an American former professional [[basketball]] player who played for the [[Seattle SuperSonics]], [[Cleveland Cavaliers]], [[Portland Trail Blazers]], and [[Orlando Magic]] in the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA). Nicknamed "'''Reign Man'''",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kempsh01.html|title=Shawn Kemp|website=[[Basketball-Reference.com]]|access-date=July 11, 2020}}</ref> he was a six-time [[NBA All-Star]] and a three-time [[All-NBA Second Team]] member. Kemp is widely regarded as one of the best [[slam dunk]]ers of all time<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-06 |title=Power Rankings: The 25 best dunkers in NBA history {{!}} Sporting News Canada |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nba/news/power-rankings-the-25-best-dunkers-in-nba-history/1vzis84j90amr1tw512b9foiey |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=www.sportingnews.com |language=en-ca}}</ref> and made the [[1996 NBA Finals]] with the SuperSonics.

Kemp was a member of the [[United States men's national basketball team|United States national team]] at the [[1994 FIBA World Championship]] where he won gold and was named to the [[FIBA Basketball World Cup All-Tournament Team|All-Tournament team]]. He was part of a famous [[Pick and roll|Pick And Roll]] duo with All-Star Teammate [[Gary Payton]] and is often associated with Payton.

==Early years==
[[Image:Shawn Kemp Concord High School 1988.jpg|thumb|left|Kemp playing for the Concord High School varsity basketball team in 1987–88]]Kemp attended [[Concord High School (Indiana)|Concord High School]] in [[Elkhart, Indiana]]. At the prestigious B/C All-Star Camp on his first day, Kemp outplayed highly regarded prep star [[Terry Mills (basketball)|Terry Mills]]. A four-year varsity starter, he was considered to be one of the top four or five players nationally his senior year,{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} and led his team to the state championship finals. Kemp ended his high school career as Elkhart County's all-time leading scorer and the owner of Concord's career, single-game and single-season scoring records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elkhartcountyhof.com/n-FGHIJKL-Folder-Shawn--Kemp.html |title=Shawn Kemp – Elkhart County, Indiana, Sports Hall of Fame |publisher=Elkhartcountyhof.com |access-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref> Despite his achievements and accolades, Kemp was bypassed for the title of [[Indiana Mr. Basketball]] as Woody Austin won the award that year instead. (Kemp, however, was [[Gatorade]]'s choice for state player of the year.)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/winner/shawn-kemp/21766 |title=Shawn Kemp Gatorade 1987 - 1988: Player of the Year Boys Basketball - Indiana Player of The Year |website=Gatorade Player of the Year |access-date=September 26, 2025}}</ref> There has been some speculation that Kemp was purposely passed over for the award because he verbally committed to the [[University of Kentucky]] and did not express interest in staying in-state to play [[college basketball]] (Austin committed to [[Purdue University]].)<ref>{{cite web|last=Forde |first=Pat |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19960616/2334927/mister-basketball----true-confession-i-admit-i-didnt-vote-for-kemp----future-sonic-was-super-then-too |title=Sports &#124; Mister Basketball – True Confession: I Admit I Didn't Vote For Kemp – Future Sonic Was Super Then, Too |publisher=Community.seattletimes.nwsource.com |date=June 16, 1996 |access-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elkharttruth.com/article/20121203/SPORT01/712039953 |title=Shawn Kemp on Hall of Fame's Silver Anniversary team |publisher=Elkharttruth.com |access-date=December 10, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130814012954/http://www.elkharttruth.com/article/20121203/SPORT01/712039953 |archive-date=August 14, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Nelson |first=Glenn |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19910303/1269263/man-child----seattles-shawn-kemp-is-anything-but-a-little-kid-on-the-basketball-court |title=Sports &#124; Man-Child – Seattle's Shawn Kemp Is Anything But A Little Kid On The Basketball Court |publisher=Community.seattletimes.nwsource.com |date=March 3, 1991 |access-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref> Kemp was selected to the 1988 [[McDonald's High School All-American]] team (considered one of the best classes of all time),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Phil |title=High School Basketball |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1992/02/10/high-school-basketball |website=SI.com |access-date=March 15, 2020 |date=February 10, 1992}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kirkpatrick |first1=Curry |title=The Class of '92 This could be the finest crop of freshmen the game has ever seen |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1988/11/16/the-class-of-92-this-could-be-the-finest-crop-of-freshmen-the-game-has-ever-seen |website=SI.com |access-date=March 15, 2020 |date=November 16, 1988}}</ref> along with such notable players as [[Alonzo Mourning]], [[Billy Owens]], [[Anthony Peeler]], and [[Malik Sealy]]. Kemp scored a team-high 18 points for the West in a 105–99 loss.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/18/sports/results-plus-807888.html |title=Results Plus – New York Times |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 18, 1988 |access-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref>

During his senior year, Kemp signed a national letter-of-intent to play basketball at the [[University of Kentucky]]. However, Kemp failed to score the minimum of 700 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or [[SAT]], and was forced to miss his freshman year under the NCAA's [[Proposition 48 (NCAA)|Proposition 48]] rules. Jim Hahn, Kemp's high school coach, did not like the idea of Kemp being in Kentucky without playing basketball, saying "To have Shawn in a college environment without basketball, the one thing he loves, was, I felt, a big mistake. It even crossed my mind to advise him to go right into the NBA and the only thing that stopped me was the fact that so few players have done it."<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Jack McCallum |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1069158/2/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213042454/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1069158/2/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 13, 2013 |title=Seattle's Shawn Kemp, just an NBA babe, is a potential – 11.27.89 – SI Vault |magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=November 27, 1989 |access-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref> Kemp decided to enroll at Kentucky. However, he left the team in November 1988 after he was accused of pawning two gold chains that had been reported stolen from his teammate [[Sean Sutton]], the son of then Kentucky head coach [[Eddie Sutton]]. Sean Sutton did not press charges but Kemp transferred to [[Trinity Valley Community College]] in [[Texas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/08/sports/sports-people-kemp-leaves-kentucky.html?pagewanted=1 |title=Kemp Leaves Kentucky |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 8, 1988 |access-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref> After a semester at TVCC, where he did not play, 19-year-old Kemp declared himself eligible for the [[1989 NBA draft]].

==Professional career==

===Seattle SuperSonics (1989–1997)===
The [[Seattle SuperSonics]] drafted Kemp, in the first round of the [[1989 NBA draft]]. Although extremely athletic, Kemp was the youngest player in the NBA at that time and struggled to find his place. In his first season in Seattle, Kemp was mentored heavily by teammate [[Xavier McDaniel]]. As the season progressed, so did Kemp's skills, which propelled him into stardom. Kemp began to find his place in the NBA as a star during his second season with the SuperSonics. Together with [[Gary Payton]], [[Eddie Johnson (basketball, born 1959)|Eddie Johnson]], [[Ricky Pierce]] and [[Nate McMillan]], they became a highly successful squad.

After Kemp's second NBA season, he picked up the nickname "Reign Man" after the SuperSonics' announcer [[Kevin Calabro]] saw a poster with the name and thought it fitting to add to his radio broadcasts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reignman.com/reignman/section.cfm?wSectionID=1874 |title=– The Official Shawn Kemp Web Site – Quiz |publisher=Reignman.com |access-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref>

In 1992 during a playoff game against the Golden State Warriors, Kemp dunked over center Alton Lister, which colloquially became known as "The Lister Blister".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Astramskas |first=David |title=The Story Behind Shawn Kemp's "Lister Blister" Revenge Dunk |url=https://ballislife.com/shawn-kemp-lister-blister/ |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=ballislife.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1994, Kemp appeared in the [[MTV Rock N' Jock]] annual celebrity basketball game.

Kemp's career peaked in [[1995–96 NBA season|1995–96]], when he and Payton led the SuperSonics to a franchise-record 64 wins and their first [[1996 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]] appearance since 1979. They faced [[Michael Jordan]] and the [[Chicago Bulls]], who were coming off an NBA record 72 wins. The SuperSonics pushed the heavily favored Bulls to six games before losing. In the Finals, Kemp posted per game averages of 23.3 points on 55% shooting from the field, 10.0 rebounds and two blocks. Shawn Kemp finished a close second in Finals MVP voting, almost becoming the second player to win the award despite being from the losing team.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Armour |first1=Terry |last2=Smith |first2=Sam |title=Kemp finishes a close second in MVP voting |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-06-17-9606170151-story.html |website=chicagotribune.com |access-date=March 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013160547/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-06-17-9606170151-story.html |archive-date=October 13, 2019 |date=June 17, 1996}}</ref>

During his time in Seattle, Kemp occasionally played during the offseason on an outdoor court in Seattle's [[Belltown, Seattle|Belltown]] district.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Keown|first=Tim|date=19 Feb 1996|title=Reign Man|magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>

Kemp signed a contract extension with the SuperSonics in 1994. The league's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) precluded any adjustment to that contract until October 1997. He was upset by the situation, but his agent, Tony Dutte, understood that no negotiation was permitted. During this time, the SuperSonics signed [[Jim McIlvaine]] to a seven-year, $33.6 million contract, exceeding Kemp's salary. Kemp threatened to refuse to play in the upcoming [[1996–97 NBA season|1996–97 season]] and held out of training camp for 22 days. Despite this absence, Kemp helped lead the SuperSonics to another 50-plus-win season as they dispatched the [[Phoenix Suns]] in five games in the first round, only to lose to the [[Hakeem Olajuwon]], [[Clyde Drexler]] and [[Charles Barkley]]-led [[Houston Rockets]] in a seven-game series in the second round of the [[1997 NBA Playoffs|NBA Playoffs]]. Following the 1996–1997 season, Kemp was part of a trade sending him to the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]], [[Milwaukee Bucks]] forward [[Vin Baker]] to the SuperSonics, and [[Terrell Brandon]] and [[Tyrone Hill]] from the Cavaliers to the Bucks.

===Cleveland Cavaliers (1997–2000)===
Kemp played three seasons with the Cavaliers where he posted career-high numbers for points per game in [[1997–98 NBA season|1997–98]] and led the Cavaliers to the [[1998 NBA Playoffs|NBA Playoffs]], where they faced the [[Reggie Miller]]-led [[Indiana Pacers]]. The Cavaliers lost to the Pacers in four games despite Kemp averaging 26 points with 13 rebounds per game in the series.

During the lockout shortened 1998–1999 NBA season, Kemp reportedly showed up to training camp weighing 280 pounds, though Cleveland's then general manager [[Wayne Embry]] revealed that he was actually 315 pounds.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2011/10/cleveland_cavaliers_know_tryin.html | work=The Cleveland Plain Dealer | title=Cleveland Cavaliers know trying to win after a lockout can be a weighty problem | date=October 15, 2011}}</ref>

===Portland Trail Blazers (2000–2002)===
Kemp was then traded to the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] after the [[1999–2000 NBA season|1999–2000 season]], in a three-team trade involving the [[Miami Heat]]; the Cavaliers received [[Clarence Weatherspoon]], [[Chris Gatling]], [[Gary Grant (basketball)|Gary Grant]] and draft considerations, while the Heat received [[Brian Grant]]. The trade reunited Kemp with [[Bob Whitsitt]], who had originally brought Kemp to Seattle. However, Kemp's play began to decline significantly. After two seasons with the Blazers, Kemp was waived prior to the 2002–03 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/21/sports/plus-nba-kemp-is-waived-by-trail-blazers.html?ref=shawnkemp | work=The New York Times | title=PLUS: N.B.A.; Kemp Is Waived By Trail Blazers | date=August 21, 2002}}</ref>

===Orlando Magic (2002–2003)===
Kemp was signed as a free agent by the [[Orlando Magic|Magic]], and helped the Magic reach the playoffs despite the loss of starting small forward [[Grant Hill]]. During his one season in Orlando, Kemp played in his 1000th NBA game. In their first round series, the Magic took an early three games to one lead before losing to the [[Detroit Pistons]] in seven games. Following the 2002–03 season, Kemp was replaced by free agent forward [[Juwan Howard]].

===Comeback attempts and retirement===
In April of the [[2005–06 NBA season]], Kemp's NBA comeback chances looked promising.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002398938_Kemp24.html |title=The Seattle Times: Sports: Shawn Kemp eyeing a return to the NBA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420121135/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002398938_kemp24.html |archive-date=April 20, 2008 }}</ref> The eventual Western Conference champion [[Dallas Mavericks]] considered adding Kemp to their roster in time for the NBA playoffs. Mavs' coach, and former Sonic teammate, [[Avery Johnson]] scheduled a personal workout to take place in [[Houston]], where Kemp trained for several months. Kemp failed to appear because of undisclosed reasons. The two parties tried to reschedule a workout but the NBA refused to grant Dallas an injury exception (for a 16th player). Kemp did not get a second chance to join the Mavericks that season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/basketball/14287361.htm |title=Fort Worth/Dallas news, sports, cars and jobs |access-date=April 11, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060908124619/http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/basketball/14287361.htm |archive-date=September 8, 2006 }}</ref>

In June 2006, three months after a drug arrest, the ''[[Denver Post]]'' reported that Kemp had slimmed down to the playing weight of his All-Star days and was determined to join an NBA team, possibly the [[Denver Nuggets]], and finish his career "the right way."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Spears |first1=Marc J. |title=Kemp eager to return to game |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2006/06/03/kemp-eager-to-return-to-game/ |website=The Denver Post |access-date=March 15, 2020 |date=June 3, 2006}}</ref> The Nuggets ultimately turned their attention away from Kemp, signing power forward [[Reggie Evans]]. Kemp drew some interest from the [[Chicago Bulls]] in September 2006, but missed his scheduled workout.

During the half time of the SuperSonics' game on November 5, 2006, Kemp was announced as one of the 16 members of the SuperSonics' 40-year anniversary team. After having the longest ovation of all the players, Kemp said after the celebration that he would play with a team in Rome and was still considering a comeback to the NBA. Kemp, however, did not secure a position on an NBA roster during the 2006–07 season.

On August 18, 2008, Kemp signed a one-year contract with [[Premiata Montegranaro]] of [[Serie A (basketball)|Italian League]]. Despite being almost 39, he was said to be in good shape. The Premiata deal came about due to the good relationship between Kemp and Roberto Carmenati, the new Team Director of Montegranaro.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3539904 |title=Former NBA star Kemp agrees to play basketball in Italy – NBA – ESPN |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=August 18, 2008 |access-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref> Kemp reported to the team, played in three preseason games, then returned to Houston to assess his home for damage from [[Hurricane Ike]]. Kemp and Premiata Montegranaro decided to part ways, and the contract was rescinded.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kemp's return to basketball cut short - Sportsnet.ca |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/kemp-return/ |website=Sportsnet.ca |access-date=March 15, 2020 |date=September 14, 2009}}</ref>

After his active career he tried to bring basketball back to Seattle.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/04/shawn-kemp-seattle-supersonics-basketball-nba|title=Shawn Kemp: 'I feel it. Basketball will come back to Seattle.'|date=April 24, 2018|work=For The Win|access-date=July 8, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Kemp bought a mansion in Seattle in 2003 for $2.4 million, the year he retired from the NBA. In 2008, he listed the property for $3.7 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.basketballwithinborders.com/shawn-kemp-lists-seattle-mansion-for-3-7m/|title=Shawn Kemp lists Seattle mansion for $3.7m {{!}} BWB|website=www.basketballwithinborders.com|language=en-US|access-date=July 24, 2018}}</ref>

==National team career==
Kemp played for the [[United States men's national basketball team|US national team]] in the [[1994 FIBA World Championship]] in [[Toronto]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Sonics star Kemp excited about playing above the rim |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/770913204/ |access-date=20 August 2024 |work=[[The Bellingham Herald]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=25 July 1994 |page=D2 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{closed access}}</ref> where he won the gold medal<ref>{{cite web |title=Twelfth World Championship – 1994 |url=https://www.usab.com/history/national-team-mens/twelfth-world-championship-1994.aspx |website=www.usab.com |access-date=March 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502051520/https://www.usab.com/history/national-team-mens/twelfth-world-championship-1994.aspx |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |date=June 10, 2010}}</ref> and was named to the [[FIBA Basketball World Cup All-Tournament Team|All-Tournament team]] along with teammates [[Shaquille O'Neal]] and [[Reggie Miller]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Dream Team II romp to glory at '94 World Cup in Toronto |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/news/dream-team-ii-romp-to-glory-at-94-world-cup-in-toronto |access-date=20 August 2024 |work=fiba.basketball |publisher=[[FIBA]] |date=10 September 2022}}</ref> For the tournament, he averaged 9.4 points on a 68.9% shooting along with 6.8 rebounds, including 14 points and 9 rebounds in the championship clinching game against [[Russia men's national basketball team|Russia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Shawn Kemp's profile - 1994 World Championship for Men |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/19036/sid/2913/tid/379/_//index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820130114/https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/19036/sid/2913/tid/379/_//index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 20, 2024 |website=archive.fiba.com |publisher=[[FIBA]] |access-date=20 August 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Kemp has fathered at least seven children with six different women.<ref name="PaternityWard">{{cite news|last1=Wahl|first1=Grant|last2=Wertheim|first2=L. Jon|author3=Lester Munson|author4=Don Yaeger|title=Where's Daddy?|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1998/05/04/242554/paternity-ward-fathering-out-of-wedlock-kids-has-become-commonplace-among-athletes-many-of-whom-seem-oblivious-to-the-legal-financial-and-emotional-consequences|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=May 4, 1998|access-date=December 11, 2015|format=Vault|quote=Fathering out-of-wedlock kids has become commonplace among athletes, many of whom seem oblivious to the legal, financial and emotional consequences}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Ralph Warner|url=https://www.complex.com/sports/2014/06/athletes-with-the-most-children-by-the-most-women/|title=Big Poppas: The Athletes With the Most Children by the Most Women|publisher=[[Complex Magazine]]|date=June 15, 2014|accessdate=November 29, 2021}}</ref> His oldest son, Shawn Kemp Jr., played basketball for the [[University of Washington]] and another son, Jamon, played basketball at [[Southeastern Louisiana University]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Leung |first=Diamond |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/32678/shawn-kemp-jr-signs-with-washington |title=Shawn Kemp, Jr. signs with Washington |publisher=Espn |date=July 7, 2011 |access-date=October 10, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-19 |title=Jamon Kemp excited to play college basketball at Southeastern Louisiana University |url=https://wgno.com/sports/jamon-kemp-excited-to-play-college-basketball-at-southeastern-louisiana-university/ |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=WGNO |language=en-US}}</ref>

Kemp appeared on the 2009 season premiere of ''[[Pros vs. Joes]]''. A photograph of Kemp dunking over [[Hakeem Olajuwon]] appears on the cover of ''[[NBA Jam Extreme]]''.

Kemp was the owner of a sports bar in Lower Queen Anne, Seattle named Oskar's Kitchen. The establishment closed in 2015.<ref>Carpenter, Les. [https://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--thunder--not-supersonics--are-in-the-nba-finals--and-seattle-is-stewing-over-it.html;_ylt=AhS6ucAdFmsoTXp7Qj83GzG8vLYF Thunder, not Supersonics, are in the NBA Finals, and Seattle is stewing over bitter departure]. Yahoo! Sports. June 13, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2012.</ref> Kemp now owns a part of Amber's Kitchen on 1st Avenue in Seattle as well as a controlling interest in several Seattle venues.

In October 2020, Kemp was part of a group that opened a [[Cannabis dispensaries in the United States|cannabis dispensary]] in Seattle named Shawn Kemp's Cannabis.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Allen |first1=Percy |title=Sonics fans come out in force to witness opening of Shawn Kemp's Cannabis in Queen Anne |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sonics-fans-come-out-in-force-to-witness-opening-of-shawn-kemps-cannabis-in-queen-anne/ |access-date=November 28, 2020 |work=The Seattle Times |date=October 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Brito |first1=Christopher |title=NBA legend Shawn Kemp wants the cannabis industry to open up to "everybody" |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/shawn-kemp-nba-cannabis-dispensary-seattle/ |access-date=November 28, 2020 |work=CBS News |date=October 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Booth |first1=Tim |title=Shawn's Hemp: Former NBA All-Star Kemp enters pot business |url=https://apnews.com/article/business-virus-outbreak-nba-seattle-b86a7d5eb4ca56d8425a56ea58dac800 |access-date=November 28, 2020 |work=Associated Press |date=October 30, 2020}}</ref> He was joined at the grand opening by former teammate [[Gary Payton]], whose [[Cookies (cannabis brand)|Cookies brand]] cannabis strain he sells at the shop.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nelson |first1=John |title=Shawn Kemp brings Sonics nostalgia to store opening |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/dec/07/shawn-kemp-brings-sonics-nostalgia-to-store-openin/ |access-date=March 13, 2023 |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=December 7, 2020}}</ref>

===Legal problems===
On April 4, 2005, Kemp was arrested in [[Shoreline, Washington]], for an investigation of drug possession. Kemp and another man were found with a small amount of cocaine, about 60&nbsp;grams of marijuana and a semiautomatic pistol, according to the [[King County, Washington|King County]] Sheriff's Office. On April 29, Kemp was formally charged with drug possession and pleaded guilty.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002230356_webKemparrested04.html |title=The Seattle Times: Sports: Former SuperSonic Shawn Kemp arrested |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929131831/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002230356_webkemparrested04.html |archive-date=September 29, 2007 }}</ref> Kemp was again arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession in [[Houston, Texas]], on July 21, 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2526640 |title=ESPN – Former All-Star Kemp charged with drug possession – NBA |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=July 21, 2006 |access-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref>

On March 8, 2023, Kemp was arrested in [[Tacoma, Washington]], in connection with an alleged drive-by shooting.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 8, 2023 |title=Booking 2023067019 |url=https://linxonline.co.pierce.wa.us/linxweb/Booking/GetBooking.cfm?booking_id=2023067019 |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=linxonline.co.pierce.wa.us}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Shawn Kemp held in connection with an alleged drive-by shooting in Washington | last=Quinn | first=Sam | date=March 8, 2023 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/shawn-kemp-held-in-connection-with-an-alleged-drive-by-shooting-in-washington/ }}</ref> Originally released without being charged, the following month Kemp was charged with first degree assault.<ref>{{cite web | title=No charges to be filed against Shawn Kemp after drive-by shooting investigation in Tacoma | website=FOX13 News | date=2023-03-08 | url=https://www.q13fox.com/news/shawn-kemp-arrested-no-charges-filed-after-drive-by-shooting-investigation-tacoma-washington | access-date=2023-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Ganguli | first=Tania | title=Shawn Kemp Charged With First-Degree Assault in Shooting | date=April 14, 2023 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/14/sports/basketball/shawn-kemp-shooting.html | work=New York Times }}</ref> Kemp pleaded not guilty to the first degree assault charge during a May 4 arraignment hearing in [[Pierce County, Washington|Pierce County Superior Court]] in Washington state. Following the hearing, he was released without bail.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ex-NBA star Shawn Kemp pleads not guilty to shooting charge |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/nba-star-shawn-kemp-pleads-guilty-shooting-charge-99081739 |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |access-date=4 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rapp |first1=Timothy |title=Former NBA All-Star Shawn Kemp Pleads Not Guilty to Assault Charge in Shooting Case |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10074961-former-nba-all-star-shawn-kemp-pleads-not-guilty-to-assault-charge-in-shooting-case |website=[[Bleacher Report]] |access-date=4 May 2023}}</ref> Kemp later pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, which carries a standard sentence of between three and nine months in prison, with one year of community custody.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Girgis|first1=Lauren |title= Shawn Kemp pleads guilty to second-degree assault | url= https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/sonics-legend-shawn-kemp-pleads-guilty-to-second-degree-assault/ | access-date=May 27, 2025 |work=The Seattle Times | date=May 27, 2025 }}</ref> On August 22, 2025, was sentenced to home confinement on the charges.<ref name="sentenced">{{cite news |last1=Girgis |first1=Lauren |title=Shawn Kemp, former Seattle Sonics star, sentenced to home monitoring |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/shawn-kemp-former-seattle-sonics-star-sentenced-to-home-monitoring/ |access-date=23 August 2025 |work=The Seattle Times |date=22 August 2025}}</ref>

===Acting ===
Kemp had a cameo in ''[[Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm]]''.

==Career statistics==
{{NBA player statistics legend|leader=y}}

===Regular season===
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| {{nowrap|style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1989}}}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1989–90 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| 81 || 1 || 13.8 || .479 || .167 || .736 || 4.3 || .3 || .6 || .9 || 6.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1990}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1990–91 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| 81 || 66 || 30.1 || .508 || .167 || .661 || 8.4 || 1.8 || 1.0 || 1.5 || 15.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1991}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1991–92 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| 64 || 23 || 28.3 || .504 || .000 || .748 || 10.4 || 1.3 || 1.1 || 1.9 || 15.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1992}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1992–93 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| 78 || 68 || 33.1 || .492 || .000 || .712 || 10.7 || 2.0 || 1.5 || 1.9 || 17.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1993}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1993–94 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| 79 || 73 || 32.9 || .538 || .250 || .741 || 10.8 || '''2.6''' || '''1.8''' || '''2.1''' || 18.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1994}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1994–95 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| style="background:#cfecec;"| '''82'''* || 79 || 32.7 || .547 || .286 || .749 || 10.9 || 1.8 || 1.2 || 1.5 || 18.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1995}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1995–96 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| 79 || 76 || 33.3 || '''.561''' || .417 || .742 || '''11.4''' || 2.2 || 1.2 || 1.6 || 19.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1996}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| 81 || 75 || 34.0 || .510 || .364 || .742 || 10.0 || 1.9 || 1.5 || 1.0 || 18.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1997}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]]
| 80 || 80 || 34.6 || .445 || .250 || .727 || 9.3 || 2.5 || 1.4 || 1.1 || 18.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1998}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1998–99 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]]
| 42 || 42 || '''35.1''' || .482 || '''.500''' || .789 || 9.2 || 2.4 || 1.1 || 1.1 || '''20.5'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1999|trunc=y}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1999–2000 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]]
| '''82''' || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''82'''* || 30.4 || .417 || .333 || .776 || 8.8 || 1.7 || 1.2 || 1.2 || 17.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2000}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2000–01 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| 68 || 3 || 15.9 || .407 || .364 || .771 || 3.8 || 1.0 || .7 || .3 || 6.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2001}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2001–02 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| 75 || 5 || 16.4 || .430 || .000 || '''.794''' || 3.8 || .7 || .6 || .4 || 6.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2002}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2002–03 Orlando Magic season|Orlando]]
| 76 || 55 || 20.7 || .418 || .000 || .742 || 5.7 || .7 || .8 || .4 || 6.8
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 1,051 || 728 || 27.9 || .488 || .277 || .741 || 8.4 || 1.6 || 1.1 || 1.2 || 14.6
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|All-Star
| 6 || 5 || 20.0 || .458 || .200 || .750 || 5.8 || 1.7 || 1.0 || .7 || 9.0
{{s-end}}

===Playoffs===
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1991 NBA playoffs|1991]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1990–91 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| 5 || 5 || 29.8 || .386 || .000 || .815 || 7.2 || 1.2 || .6 || .8 || 13.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1992 NBA playoffs|1992]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1991–92 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| 9 || 9 || 37.6 || .475 || {{sort|-|—}} || .763 || 12.2 || .4 || .6 || 1.6 || 17.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1993 NBA playoffs|1993]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1992–93 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| 19 || 19 || 34.9 || .512 || {{sort|-|—}} || .809 || 10.0 || 2.6 || 1.5 || 2.1 || 16.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1994 NBA playoffs|1994]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1993–94 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| 5 || 5 || '''41.2''' || .371 || {{sort|-|—}} || .667 || 9.8 || '''3.4''' || '''2.0''' || '''2.4''' || 14.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1995 NBA playoffs|1995]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1994–95 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| 4 || 4 || 40.0 || '''.579''' || '''1.000''' || .821 || 12.0 || 2.8 || '''2.0''' || 1.8 || 24.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1996 NBA playoffs|1996]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1995–96 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| '''20''' || '''20''' || 36.0 || .570 || .000 || .795 || 10.4 || 1.5 || 1.2 || 2.0 || 20.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1997 NBA playoffs|1997]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| 12 || 12 || 36.8 || .486 || .200 || .829 || '''12.3''' || 3.0 || 1.2 || 1.3 || 21.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1998 NBA playoffs|1998]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]]
| 4 || 4 || 38.0 || .465 || {{sort|-|—}} || '''.844''' || 10.3 || 2.0 || 1.3 || 1.0 || '''26.0'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2002 NBA playoffs|2002]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2001–02 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| 3 || 0 || 11.7 || .286 || {{sort|-|—}} || .700 || 2.7 || .0 || .3 || .0 || 3.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2003 NBA playoffs|2003]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2002–03 Orlando Magic season|Orlando]]
| 7 || 0 || 10.3 || .381 || {{sort|-|—}} || .833 || 2.1 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 3.0
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 88 || 78 || 33.4 || .498 || .200 || .797 || 9.7 || 1.8 || 1.1 || 1.6 || 17.3
{{s-end}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Sports}}
* [[List of NBA career turnovers leaders]]
* [[List of NBA career personal fouls leaders]]
* [[List of NBA single-game blocks leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{basketballstats|nba=431|bbr=k/kempsh01}}

{{1989 NBA draft}}
{{United States Squad 1994 FIBA World Championship}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kemp, Shawn}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1994 FIBA World Championship players]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Indiana]]
[[Category:Businesspeople in the cannabis industry]]
[[Category:Cleveland Cavaliers players]]
[[Category:FIBA World Championship–winning players]]
[[Category:McDonald's High School All-Americans]]
[[Category:NBA All-Stars]]
[[Category:Orlando Magic players]]
[[Category:Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball)]]
[[Category:Portland Trail Blazers players]]
[[Category:Power forwards]]
[[Category:Seattle SuperSonics draft picks]]
[[Category:Seattle SuperSonics players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Elkhart, Indiana]]
[[Category:Trinity Valley Community College alumni]]
[[Category:United States men's national basketball team players]]
[[Category:University of Kentucky alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]