Lol. Lebron is on an entirely different level. I saw Shawn Kemp play many, many times. He was one of my favorites, but he was also on the Ewing/Barkley/Webber level. He was NOT on another stratosphere such as guys like Magic, Bird, Jordan, and Lebron. To say that Kemp is better than Lebron just shows lack of any understanding about basketball and maybe even sports in general.
My understanding is, given the "same" opportunities as LeBron, Kemp is better, if not, just as good. Look at this video. What do you think Kemp would do in todays' game of perimeter defence and a 3 second defensive rule, meaning, no defence at the point of attack, only people flying at him? The rim is wide open. And, also, I'm a Bulls fan, and I've watched people like Ronnie Brewer, Luol Deng, and Jimmy Butler make LeBron pedestrian. Year after year. LeBron is on no special level from my vantage point. He's a Hall of Famer for sure.
Man, I remember those days! Kemp was electrifying, stunning…just off the charts explosive! He & GP were the 1-2-punch! I haven’t seen anyone who compares to Shawn Kemp. He’s in a league of his own.
Most electrifying player of all time and one of the most athletically gifted ever. 90's were the greatest years of basketball by far and Kemp was a big part of the reason.
@M Soccer is that big worldwide because it's a game for the average Joe. One in which the smallest kid around the block can be a star. In fact, at the moment the smallest kid looks like the greatest ever. Plus, you can play it with just a ball and two school bags as goal posts. That makes it unique. But when it comes to the crown of athletes? You look at the 7ft guy that can fly like an eagle. The Titans among us humans. The sport of royalty. Compared to that soccer is a brawl amongst peasants. Yet, I love it for that.
Amen brother! Saw him play high school ball in Indiana, dude was a borderline god when next to high school kids, everyone knew what they were watching was special.
He is without a doubt the best in-game dunker in history. The menace with which he dunked has not been seen since, he looked like a big cat attacking to kill. It was personal, against the rim lol, as someone said.
What I like about Shawn Kemp is it looks too easy and effortless for him to jump high. His legs are like a pogo stick and he just bounces above the rim.
One of The Most Explosive Exciting Players in NBA History during The 90 S The Reign Man Needs to be in The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield Massachusetts in my opinion.
What a time to be alive and what a time for nbq basketball. The late 80s and 90s,best generation of basketball players ever to be. Even players nick names were awesome:the reign man,the mail man,the X-man,the glove,the worm,the dream,the admiral, the microwave,the human highlight,the glide,the spider and many more. but above all of them, his airness. The sonics,perhaps one of the greatest nba teams,along with the blazers and the jazz,without a ring.only because one men.mind-blowing.
I grew up in the 90's and other then MJ he was the most exciting guy to watch. I'm from Detroit but when I could get to stay up late as a kid it was the shit if I caught a Sonics game. He did something EVERY night.
A player who could have played in todays NBA. He had the height (6 foot ten), three point shooting, passing, dribbling (Could dribble like a shooting guard), rebounding and speed. He had it all
Shawn was the real deal. People only talk about the way he dunked, which was the most spectacular thing to watch. But, man, he had it all. Came in the league without any jump shot at all, practiced night in and night out and developed the smoothest deep two you could think of at the time. Protected the rim and grabbed boards at will against the Hakeems, Malones and Chucks of the time. Wrestled with all of them, even defending the dream one on one and dominated him, the reigning champion, in 96, when almost no one else could. Had he been given the same superstar protection MJ or Malone were granted when it comes to travelling or offensive fouls that send him to the bench too often, he could have been the most unstoppable PF of the era or almost any era. Came damn close to it, inspite of the officials holding him back. In todays game and set of rules? No one's stopping SK 40! Edit: Sorry, if there's any clumsy language! Sincerely, a basketball fan from Germany that came for Det and stayed for the most thrilling team he could have dreamed to cheer for.
Shawn Kemp was the best power forward to play the game he played with real players who go out and bang the boards and he was electrifying it's sad that Seattle let him get out the door because they did not honor him for his play.....
One of my close friends who went to TVC with Shawn in Texas tells the story of his first experience of playing with Shawn in a live practice: Kemp [6 foot 11] grabs a def. rebound takes off with a dribble behind the back on the first man, goes between his legs on man 2, crosses over the 3rd guy , and the safety is waiting at the free throw line where Kemp spin dribbles on him, jumps before reversing in the air to do a double pump dunk with his back to the rim [All in 5 steps to go 90 feet].This is the image I had of Kemp before I ever saw him play. In 1988 I was told this guy was an athletic Michael Jordan type guard trapped in a big man's body. I never doubted anything my friend told me about a great player again.
The only thing holding him back was foul trouble due to harsh officiating and not having the superstar bonus when it comes to travelling violations and offensive fouls that MJ or Malone were granted. If the NBA had wanted him to be, he could have been the greatest PF of the decade. And he came damn close without it.
Had this on VHS - watched it so many times until the tape broke, literally. I still walk around saying "ARE YOU SERIOUS?! ARE YOU FOR REAL?! THAT A SUPERSTAR POTENTIAL!" from 7:35
kemp was my favorite nba player growing up..he had so much power at the hoop and was a blast to watch. thanks for the fun and the memories...wish i could go back in time and see more games at key arena too see him play again..
Man Shawn Kemp is honest dude man you can just hear in this tone of voice that's my favorite player all time next to Kobe Bryant dude had a leg problem that is crazy then you see what happened after he got older what problem with his legs that man jumping out the building wow what an incredible story
I watched him when I was just a kid. Now that I'm older and understand the game a little bit more, my appreciation for Kemp is that much more!!! Damn!!! Was he ever amazing!!!
I loved Shawn in his prime and will always remember what he did. I still wear his jersey to this day, such a shame how his career ended but he was amazing for the majority of it.
I remember how exciting it was being a Supersonics fan during the early to mid 90's. It was mostly due to Shawn's game play, how he matured his understanding of the game, and how he always elevated his game during the playoffs. Greatest pure PF of all-time, especially when considering how physical the game was in the 80's and 90's. Bring back our Sonics!!!!
The dunk against the Lakers at 11:25 will never make any 'Top' 100/50/20 etc dunk lists, but it's still one of the best dunks I've ever seen. Effortless elevation, just cocks back the arm and SMASHES it through! Such a powerful dunk, made to look easy
+Verrrifried Yes and No. The first half Kemp's career was amazing. But he really tanked it in the second half of his career due to his trial and tribulations off the court. Kemp should of been a hall of famer, but it won't happen.
Besides , the endless, number of great players, and coaches , having Kevin announcing , just epic color commentary, I listened to a lot of games on radio, and with K. C . 's calls , the games were still exciting, and kept me on the edge. Truly one of the best, .
Shawn Kemp was a very good player. Tremendous athleticism, and a good set of skills. But if he had not been a prop 48, did about 3 years at Kentucky, he would've been a monster.
There's a lot of truth there... Had he come into the league, out of college, in the '91 draft, Kemp would've been the top pick (yes, picked over Larry "Grandma" Johnson). He would have had access to that sweet 15-18 stroke a full year early than when he actually gained that part of his game. I also think his love of rebounding and defense would've been turned into tools for him to be a life long all-nba defensive player.
Or we could be talking about how great he could of been if not for (insert tragic injury here) and the ubiquitous trappings of an "NCAA BOOSTER SCANDAL". Everything that transpired made him the player he was, and thus the comment we made here.
Watching this video-- seeing Shawn in the all-American game handle the ball with all the ease of a Tim Hardaway--go behind the back in one clip, dribble the length of the floor and dunk it...makes me have full conviction that this dude could've been a top 5 player of all time.Shit he easily could've fallen into the mold of a Giannis point forward. His mid range game, too--he's 6'10" with a 40 something inch vertical--the dude could've averaged 13 rebounds and 3 blocks a game.
Kemp's best years in the league were 92-93---97-98. Those years were when Kemp was the best shooting PF in the game. He developed the sweetest stroke, and he was deadly from 15-18 feet. Never mind the fact that Kemp loved to play defense and he loved rebounding the ball! The Supersonics had something so wonderful going with Kemp, but the front office messed it up (*cough-Jim MacIlvaine-cough*). Kemp also had an issue with using condoms (evidence being 7+ kids with many different mommies). Miss yah Kemp! Bring back the Supes, Adam Silver! Give Seattle a new franchise! Make this right!
This guy went up against Malone, Barkley, Olajuwan, O'Neil, D. Robinson, C. Robinson, Mutombo and 80% of the time dominated. Will end up being the most underrated player of all time. Seattle Super Sonics cursed themselves with the way they handled him on the road to losing a franchise. Imagine the trade for Pippen went down???? Kemp and Jordan in 1995....
+Jason Amaro Reinert Jordan's terrible ego and behavior would never allow such a superstar in his team playing side by side with him... Shawn is to date definitely the most spectacular PF in NBA history
@@jasonamaroreinert4499 I love Kemp. But seriously, even the GOAT Jordan need a point forward to set him up. Kemp is a good passer, but he can't handle the point forward duty like Scottie.
Only word to describe him is natural talent. He was born a PF. If he had worked enough he could be one of the greatest players. But salary issue confused him also his personal life very chaotic. T-Mac also have natural talent.
People always forget how he worked his ass off developing one of the smoothest jump shots of the time, especially when it comes to long twos. He didn't have one at all, until his third year in the league, because he never before needed it. That's work ethic. If only he always avoided offensive fouls or had gotten the same protection by the officials Malone or MJ had, he could have reduced foul trouble and been an even greater star than he was. Could have been the best PF ever.
@@christiangwenner6384 I don't think he'd be better than Duncan, but I'll give him top 2 or 3. No lower than 4, with Malone and Dirk also in that mix. Duncan is just in a different league. Like how Jordan is for the SG position and LeBron is at SF. Center and PG are up for debate more so than SG, SF, and PF.
@@halowarrior917 I'm with you when it comes to Timmy being the greatest. And happy to hear someone acknoledging Shawn. Many only remember for being a highlight show, when he was so much more, especially in 96. Imagine him playing in today's game, without travelling or offensive fouls being called. He might be almost unstoppable.
Jason Stiltner , nique...was ridiculous..i live in New york..in the late 80s my dad would take me and my brother to a Knicks game. We could choose one opponent each...he chose Jordan and the bulls and I always chose Dominique and the hawks
Nique was a little bit before my time. Never witnessed him in game until late in his career. But I could see that based off of the highlights I've seen
The guy schooled NBA guys in shape outta shape when he was a kid when he was past it did the league well watched you live 3 times Kemp you are legendary
From wearing leg braces like Forrest Gump to playing in a Junior college to what i think should be a Hall of Fame career. I still remember when the Sonics played in my hometwon Tacoma for awhile while Key Arena was getting worked on. Oh and he had the hottest kicks next to Jordans in the 90's the Reign mans by Reebok good memories!
At some point in my childhood , I became aware, how lucky we were to have the Sonics. For , most of my life, they were the only great , major sports team Seattle had. So many of the early Mariner, and Seahawk Seasons were frustrating , and abysmal, they came of age though. I got love for them all now. Really miss the Supersonics , though.
Ahh yes, the good ol days. Hand checking, no cell phones or internet, hardly any tattoos, minimal headbands & accessories, 90s shoes before they got hella funky and bunch of weird new age colorways, best of 5 1st round playoffs
Makes sense now, I always noticed his legs were angled in funny ways/body language after a dunk, he grew up with leg braces on knees and ankles... huge struggle
