<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kemp's house is a five-minute drive from the park, tucked into a swanky neighborhood called Lakeside Parkway. There's a pool with a Jacuzzi and a waterfall in the backyard, four cars ? the Dodge, a Hummer H2 with spinning rims, an Escalade EXT 300 and a Chrysler REMI ? in the driveway, a bright red Vespa scooter in the garage and a pit bull puppy running around the house. It's clear that, at 35, Kemp never has to work again. So why is he heading toward his "sweatbox" and closing the garage door? Why is he balancing on a yellow ball, lifting a medicine ball overhead and grimacing through hundreds of crunches? Why is he jumping rope, lifting weights and trimming the fat? "I'm going to play again,'' Kemp says, speaking in depth publicly for the first time since he retired two years ago after a 14-year NBA career. "And if I'm going to play again, there's only one way to do it. The right way. On my own.'' Kemp says this isn't about the money. It's about the way his legacy has been defined. You look at him and see a troublemaker, a baby factory, a talent unfulfilled. More than once, Kemp says he doesn't care what anybody thinks. And yet he cares so much, he's willing to leave the Cribs-style house and lavish lifestyle for all the things that dragged him to the bottom. Here's how he got there. Here's Shawn Kemp in 2003, too fat to look at himself in the mirror. Here's Shawn Kemp, quitting with two years remaining on his contract. </div> Full Article
He has nothing left in the tank. He ruined his career by being a *********. He showed in his Orlando days, he doesnt have much left and isn't worth the trouble. Just retire Shawn, so we can remember you for your thunderous dunks in your prime, not this post primal fatass Shawn Kemp. But, if he can prove me wrong, I wouldn't mind seeing him play again. But even if he got back into decent shape, can he produce?
I don't get it. Do you want him to retire or do you want to see him play again? Or do you want him to retire unless he is going to be good, which no one will know unless he plays. Or do you want him to play and be awful so you can tell people that you said he should retire unless he was going to produce in which case you want to see him play?
^lol I think it's good that he wants to return, the man had skills, so it's not like he'll be useless. He can definately be a good backup PF/C for a team, and on a weaker team possible a starter if he can get back to NBA playing shape.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Odde24:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't get it. Do you want him to retire or do you want to see him play again? Or do you want him to retire unless he is going to be good, which no one will know unless he plays. Or do you want him to play and be awful so you can tell people that you said he should retire unless he was going to produce in which case you want to see him play?</div> I meant that he probably should retire, because I highly doubt he can do anything. But if he can, I wouldnt mind seeing him play again. We're obviously gonna know whether or not he was good enough to play again, he's trying to get back in the league. If he makes it, he has something left, if he doesn't, well uhh, what does that leave? Uhm... Uhhh...
good for kemp yo, i want him to come back nd at least be decent, because bashing someone for their personal life......you wouldnt wan tot be remembered like that would you? i have 3 Kemp jerseys the Old School Seattle with the word "Sonics" across the chest the nasty Maroon one wit the tower on it and the Cavs jersey ima fan i want him to come bak and get his respect
Well it takes a lot for anyone to get off their fat selves and lose it all to play ball again. He says he's doing 500 crunches a day and he went from 300+ lbs. down to 280. I think he's on the right track to making a comeback in the NBA. It's a good thing that Kemp isn't doing it for the money because when he left the NBA, he ruined his image after his days with Payton. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"If every basketball team in this world called tomorrow and said, 'We won't take you,' that would be fine with me. And I'll tell you what: I'll still get up and run that damn hill. I'll still do it. Because I'll never put that weight back on again."</div> He seems pretty focused even if he doesn't make a comeback into the NBA. He also says that he's 85 - 90% the player he was in his Sonic days which is pretty shocking .
Hey if any player young or old wants to come out of absence and give it a go, give it a whirl, but Shawn Kemp did not produce like he did in the early days of his career. Then again, doesn`t that happen to alot of NBA players? But if he does return and stands out for a team, sign him and see what he can do.
Well I think he is not known for his greatness in the Sonics, but for all the bad stuff he did. So I guess there is nothing to lose. I was a fan of him in the early days and I think he should have a shot at redeeming himself. Just remember, he's only 35. Look at Mutombo. He's turning 40 and has proven to be a legit back-up to the tallest player in the league. Kevin Willis is another example. While 35 is definitely well into the declining stages of a backetball player's career, I think Kemp can do pretty well if he is working as hard as he is at the moment.
This is a shame. Shawn Kemp has no business coming back to the NBA. He is an embarassment. This cat went from being a 6-10 PF with a 45 inch vertical to a 6-10 330 lbs fat slob who could barely dunk with one hand. I remember the night he dunked on Chris Gatling. Kemp ducked oin Gatling and then sort of sat on him. Then Gatling realizing he just got dunked on gave Kemp a pound as if to say "You got me, nice dunk." Now he cant even dunk on my moms. I never saw someone use cocaine then gain weight as a result. Unbelieveable. Remember people, he has to pay child support to his 13+(at last count) kids. So it makes sense for him to come back. Oh da-n I forgot he is the same person who accepted a 10 year 20 million buyout of his contract with the Trailblazers in 2002 instead of playing the final two years of his contact worth 45 million guaranteed. What a loser. Just venting.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting HASAN33:</div><div class="quote_post">This is a shame. Shawn Kemp has no business coming back to the NBA. He is an embarassment. This cat went from being a 6-10 PF with a 45 inch vertical to a 6-10 330 lbs fat slob who could barely dunk with one hand. I remember the night he dunked on Chris Gatling. Kemp ducked oin Gatling and then sort of sat on him. Then Gatling realizing he just got dunked on gave Kemp a pound as if to say "You got me, nice dunk." Now he cant even dunk on my moms. I never saw someone use cocaine then gain weight as a result. Unbelieveable. Remember people, he has to pay child support to his 13+(at last count) kids. So it makes sense for him to come back. Oh da-n I forgot he is the same person who accepted a 10 year 20 million buyout of his contract with the Trailblazers in 2002 instead of playing the final two years of his contact worth 45 million guaranteed. What a loser. Just venting.</div> Dude, did you even bother reading the article? As if he doesn't have enough money to pay child support! He wants to come back to right all the wrongs in his career, NOT for the $$$. He has enough of that. I think that if he has seriously lost that much weight, and is continuing to do so, he could be a legit backup in the NBA. Good Luck Shawn!
I don't know why everyone is hating on a man who wants another chance to show people that he has changed his ways... Just because he was something he isn't now back in his younger years, apparently stamps that label on most fans throughout the man's life. I honor his dedication and commitment to make a comeback, he wants to show peopel that hes changed and that his rep doesn't own him truthfully. I don't think many peopel would work that hard when you've reached your middle aged years when you've already got everything laid out for you on a silver platter...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dakeem1:</div><div class="quote_post">Dude, did you even bother reading the article? As if he doesn't have enough money to pay child support! He wants to come back to right all the wrongs in his career, NOT for the $$$. He has enough of that. I think that if he has seriously lost that much weight, and is continuing to do so, he could be a legit backup in the NBA. Good Luck Shawn!</div> "DUDE" before you say I am hating, read my whole statement. You focused on one sentence. I never said he didnt have enough money for child support but when you are paying upwards to over 100 gs a month for your kids, I dont care who you are, its still a chunk of change. I brought up the fact that he was the one who messed up his own career. Im hating on what he became not what he used to be. He says in the article that he is jumping like he was five years ago. Well if my memory serves me correctly, he was playing for Portland and he wasnt doing dookie. Call it hating or whatever but I call it the truth.
Come on guys..u gotta admire his courage..i mean losing all those weight gotta count for something right? and that is dedication..
I have to be real here, I think that if Shawn Kemp can get into good shape, again, he could be the Rain Man again, but its all about his attitude, but if he has a good one, he can do it, and maybe bring a team back to life, that is just my 2 cents.
If he actually gets back in shape, who knows how well he could be back in the NBA? Kemp needs to get back into NBA shape but he also has to stay clean because he has had a past filled with drug use. Didn't he just get busted for weed recently? Plus you have to wonder how many teams will actually take him serious, this should be interesting I wonder if he can make a successful comeback?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting HASAN33:</div><div class="quote_post">I brought up the fact that he was the one who messed up his own career. Im hating on what he became not what he used to be. He says in the article that he is jumping like he was five years ago.</div> The article refers to who he is TRYING to BECOME, rather than who he used to be or what he became. And I understand you hating on what he did to his own career, but did it ever occur to you that he is trying to change? If he wasn't such a dope head a few years back, he wouldn't try a comeback because his legacy would be in tact. So the things you've commented on are reason to come back, not a reason to stay home. If the article is correct, then he is down to 280 lbs. In his sonic days he was 260 lbs, so he is getting in shape. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I never said he didnt have enough money for child support but when you are paying upwards to over 100 gs a month for your kids, I dont care who you are, its still a chunk of change.</div> Fair enough, I understand what you're saying but I dont think that is the sole reason why he's coming back.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dakeem1:</div><div class="quote_post">The article refers to who he is TRYING to BECOME, rather than who he used to be or what he became. And I understand you hating on what he did to his own career, but did it ever occur to you that he is trying to change? If he wasn't such a dope head a few years back, he wouldn't try a comeback because his legacy would be in tact. So the things you've commented on are reason to come back, not a reason to stay home. If the article is correct, then he is down to 280 lbs. In his sonic days he was 260 lbs, so he is getting in shape. Fair enough, I understand what you're saying but I dont think that is the sole reason why he's coming back.</div> i will give him props for trying to make a comeback. however it p-sses me off when someone who has the entire world in his hands with money, fame, and power then throw it all away. then they expect someone to feel sorry for them for the way they ended up. its not going to happen over here. he messed his career up. luckily he sounds like he has invested his money well. he did throw away his money by having all of these kids however. look up the paternity case he had against him from a woman in cleveland for proof. if he comes back more power to him and ill respect him for that but nothing else.
