Seattle, Washington, 1989, Shawn Kemp is drafted in the first round by the Supersonics. There was enough hype for the 6’10 power forward to make the leap to the NBA right out of high school, but having signed a letter of intent with Kentucky, he began a convoluted college route. Unable to attain academic eligibility, Kemp was faced with the reality of sitting out his freshman season. Kemp’s high school coach advised against such a decision, believing a college environment offered too great a temptation for his mercurial NBA prospect. He advised Kemp that skipping college all together would be the wiser path. Kemp, rejecting that logic, enrolled at Kentucky for what would end up being a brief stay. Accused of pawning two gold chain’s belonging to the son of Kentucky head coach Eddie Sutton, Kemp transferred to Trinity Valley Community College in Athens Texas for just one semester where he did not play basketball. Shortly thereafter Kemp declared his eligibility for the draft.
Kemp was as raw as they come, a freak athlete with limitless potential, but a checkered past and questionable decision making would always serve as blemishes on his record. Nevertheless, his ability strike fear into the hearts of defensive bigs was undeniable. Should the lane part like the Red Sea, rest assured Shawn Kemp was sure to streak with the most deliberate intention basket-ward and deposit the ball with thunderous force. Kemp was a very good rebounder and above average defender throughout the greatest years of his career in Seattle, but it would always be his dynamic dunks that brought the crowd to their feet. Just ask Chris Gatling.
Today we still use the term posterize, as if there are still posters in production that are widely circulated, purchased and adorning households throughout the nation. This dunk was the definition of the term posterize (I’d like to coin the term #deathgif or #deathgifed for future use in place of posterize, it’s just the proper verbiage for how we recognize public humiliation these days). The wind up, the follow through, Gatling hits the ground and… Oh no. That’s just cruel.
Shawn Kemp, paired with hall of famer Gary Payton, would lead the 1995-96 Sonics to a 62 win season and into the NBA Finals where he would eventually lose out to none other than Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Kemp’s career then began it’s slow but precipitous decline. Still an effective player, however, contract disputes and personality issues would plague Kemp for the remainder of his stay in the NBA. Traded to the Cavaliers in 1997 Kemp embarked on the never popular journey to weight issues land, culminating in a reported 315 lb weigh in to begin the lockout shortened 1998 season. Often serving as a cautionary tale Kemp is no longer widely remembered for his fearsome tenacity and intimidating flight paths, good luck blocking him, even if you get a hand on the ball Shawn just may snap it off on the rim. Kemp has had his share of financial issues and is reported to be a voluminous father, but when you remember Shawn Kemp think of Chris Gatling and think of the terror he struck in the hearts of rim protectors world wide. When Shawn Kemp drove the lane no one was safe.
Fly on Reign Man. Fly on.
