After having lost 75 pounds, and showing up with 11.5% body fat, Shawn Kemp was at a Denver Nuggets camp for free agents yesterday. And reports have him playing well, and George Karl was impressed. Of course, you could probably hear the exact same thing about everyone else at that camp… so I have no idea how close Shawn Kemp is to being able to land a roster spot in the NBA.
And despite how enjoyable it is to ridicule Shawn Kemp… getting back in that kind of shape at his age took some serious work. This man has been dedicated, and I give him a lot of respect for even trying. It would’ve been easy to just disappear. But he’s not happy with his legacy, he’s not happy with what people think about him, and he’s not happy with how he let his own career end. So he’s doing something about it. I can get behind that.
So whether or not he actually gets back in the league (and I think he will), he’s already accomplished a lot. I’m rooting for him. He’s been buckling down and working hard over the past month, which is not something I can say for the Detroit Pistons.
sal
Is it just me or does anyone else want Kemp to make the team so he and Carmelo can go out and make videos dissing drug dealers together?
June 6, 2006 at 10:55 am
Bouj
Shawn’s been living in Houston, and I had been seeing him at my gym (24 Hour Fitness) from time to time. He was going at it pretty hard. He looked pretty committed back then, so I hope it pays off now.
June 6, 2006 at 11:29 am
Marc Nelson Jr.
Jesus, he looks like the cheesburger-selling crackhead from Menace II Society.
“I said, I suck yo dick, man!”
June 6, 2006 at 12:23 pm
Doug
How old is he now?
June 6, 2006 at 12:48 pm
mactbone
He’s probably around 35.
I was in Elementary when he was in High School and I remember hearing vague rumors about his academic aptitude… or lack thereof. Just think, he played in the State Finals against Damon Bailey’s team and lost.
June 6, 2006 at 1:16 pm
cotton
There’s a lot to be admired about what the Man-Child is doing. Not to get all puff-piece on anyone, but that’s what sports should be about. Really puts Tim Thomas and Stephon Marbury in perspective.
June 6, 2006 at 7:31 pm
insomniac
Shawn Kemp is also the only NBA player for whom the “I’ve got a family to feed” excuse during negotiations is valid.
June 6, 2006 at 10:04 pm
William
the only reason hes so skinny now is because hes been doing a pound of blow.
June 10, 2006 at 8:20 pm
Mark
Full respect to Kemp, I reckon he has done well to get back into shape and loose all that weight. I hope he makes it back to the NBA and can finish off his career in a solid way
June 19, 2006 at 2:54 am
Keith
Kemp is lookin real good, I am pumped that hes makin a comeback. Hes was better then 80% of the big man in the league even when he was overweight. just imagine this, hes 75 pounds lighter and hasnt played in 2 years. He has had plenty of rest and should be a very good pick up for someone.
July 13, 2006 at 6:06 pm