Kemp was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics and eventually became known as the "Reign Man." Kemp was a power dunker, quick attacker, and just an overall force at the forward position. He was the Amar'e Stoudemire and Blake Griffin of the 90's. The Reign Man's last great appearance came in the 1996 NBA Finals where he and his side-kick "The Glove," Gary Payton took on the 72-10 Chicago Bulls. The Sonics would lose the series 4-2, but no true NBA fan will forget the hard fought battles between Kemp and Rodman, Payton and Kerr. The Reign Man and his Sonics never folded in a series in which they were never given a chance.
How does this tie into the 2011-2012 Philadelphia 76ers? The Sixers just accomplished a rarity in NBA Playoff history. Tonight they became the fifth eighth seed in NBA history to take down a one seed and only the third to do so in a best of seven series. (Yes, Kemp was on the first one seed that this happened to in the 1994 post season when the eighth seeded Nuggets upset Kemp's Sonics in five games.) The real answer is that Shawn Kemp has been working out with Sixers' big man, Spencer Hawes.
According to sportingnews.com via CSNPhilly.com, Hawes has been working out with Kemp since he entered the league in 2007. Hawes was drafted by the Sacramento Kings and spent his first three mediocre years in the league there. He is currently in his second year with the Sixers and seems to be thriving under head coach Doug Collins.
Some of Hawes' success could be credited to Kemp. The Reign Man was a dominate player and has a lot to give back to the game. One would say that Kemp wasted a lot of his talent following the '96 Finals. He probably did. Off the court issues derailed the Reign Man and put a black eye on his career, but his current contribution to a young talented big man has somewhat begun to fix it.
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