Shawn Kemp Wants to Come Back, Too

Posted Feb 17, 2007 2:19AM By mjd (RSS feed)

I guess today just seemed like a great day for guys who were All-Stars in 1994 to make a comeback. Scottie Pippen wants to come back this year, and, according to this from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Shawn Kemp wants to come back next year. And yes, it is probably best to wait until after the All-Star weekend in Vegas to bring Kemp back. He's been known to impregnate women by staring at them.

It's not the first time Kemp has voiced an intention to come back. He's gotten looks in the past from the Mavericks and the Nuggets, but for various reasons, it hasn't worked out. It says in the article that his best chance to come back is by getting an invite to a training camp in the fall and making the best of it.

But a scout did point out one little problem Kemp might have. He can't jump.

"When you look at him on the court, he looks the same. He got himself into shape. But like most guys that age, he can't get off the ground anymore. It just shows you that time gets everybody."

That could be a problem. Jumping is somewhat essential in the NBA.

I would love to see him get back in the league, if for no other reason than the good of Shawn Kemp. He doesn't like how his career ended, he doesn't like that he wasted his previous opportunities, and he wants to fix it. I admire that. It takes a lot of courage to try to come back after being out so long.

I remain skeptical, though, and I'd actually give Scottie Pippen a better chance of making it happen, despite being five years older. Pip's game relied on a lot of things, only one of them being athleticism. He was a very cerebral player, he relied a lot on technique, and he may still be able to get by on those things.

Kemp, though, was an athletic freak. That's not to say he wasn't a smart player; you don't get to the level Kemp was at without having some basketball sense, but Pippen was in another class. Kemp without the athleticism is like Pamela Anderson without the giant jugs. I don't know how much substance when you get past that.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

2-17-2007 @ 11:11AM

mike said...

At least Kemp is willing to go to a training camp and get on a team because he worked for it. If he makes it, great. Pippen, on the other hand, just want to show up for the playoffs and take minutes away from guys who did the work to get the team there. Thats bull (pardon the pun) and Scottie thinks far to highly of himself. Any team that takes him is slapping their own players in the face. Kemp is no role model but Pippen would do well to follow Kemp's example in this instance.

2-17-2007 @ 11:29AM

Michael said...

Why don't they just start an NBA Old-Timers League.
Then anyone can come out of retirement and go for a ring or two. We can match them up with the WNBA. Let the girls show em what their talking about.

2-17-2007 @ 11:48AM

chefdeey said...

We as fans don't just want to see a bunch of older men out there trucking up and down the court, remember this is entertainment, these guys were great back when because of thier athleticsism, with out that thier just some old guys on the court that will really take away from the game. If they can bring thier GAME to a level that makes us go ahhhh, and oohhh, then let's see them out on the court, otherwise it will just be a freak show of another kind.

2-17-2007 @ 12:31PM

keifer britten said...

I think Scottie Pippen should stay retired. He has made his legacy and he has nothing to prove and besides all of that he is getting ready to got to the hall of fame as a first time ballet. I'm a scottie pippen fan and I look forward to seeing him in the hall of fame.

2-17-2007 @ 12:32PM

shanw kemp should give it a shot, Why not? go for it.

2-17-2007 @ 1:06PM

Mike B. said...

I have to agree with the other Mike, why come and take the place of a younger generation that is fairly new to the NBA and rid his time on the court after getting himself there. Scottie should know that. Follow Shawn Kemps attack. Come in the fall and make the team and earn a spot. Not to take away what Pippen has done for the game already. Use your know of the game and teach it to others in a way that they are not taken out of the game.

2-17-2007 @ 3:16PM

mrmerricat said...

I always wondered what would happen if former greats came back to play again with the fast moving game of today. I say why not, if it works out great. If it doesn't, then everyone will voice an opinion.

2-17-2007 @ 3:07PM

Steve said...

The NBA should start a queer league and a old farts league

2-17-2007 @ 3:46PM

Gary said...

I think it would be really good for Pippen and Kemp to come back just for the sake of showing the younger guys examples of how the NBA used to be as far as fundamental skills go.

2-17-2007 @ 9:05PM

frank walker said...

Is this for real? What's the matter with these guys, do they think people want to pay money to see a bunch of old farts try to recapture their youth? Give me a break, the NBA'a image is in the toilet now, and they expect us to watch shawn kemp, of all people. Give it up fellas, and get on with your lives....

2-17-2007 @ 11:28PM

Mike said...

The thought of Shawn Kemp in a Suns uniform makes me throw up......in my mind.

2-17-2007 @ 11:50PM

Matt Baker said...

I think that Shawn coming back to the league is a ok if he can actually make the team. I think he was a really good player when he played and him and Pippen both should make it back finally to the NBA>

2-18-2007 @ 12:01AM

Dave said...

Scottie Pippen was a good role player in his time and he was smart enough to know what he was. Shawn Kemp on the other hand was never the sharpest knife in the drawer. Come to think of it, I'm not sure he could SPELL drawer... But he sure got in way too many women's drawers.

2-18-2007 @ 2:47AM

The thought of Kemp (or Pippen) in a Suns uniform would be frightening; just think of all the oxygen tanks and CPR equipment the Suns organization would have to buy after having those guys run 5 minutes with the Suns. Keifer and Mike B., you got it- thay had great careers- let it go at that.

2-18-2007 @ 8:26AM

dan said...

It's all for the money that is it!

2-18-2007 @ 8:21AM

all for the money!!

2-18-2007 @ 10:26PM

jes bar said...

pippen and kemp may be old but if they make the team good for them .

2-19-2007 @ 1:33AM

paul arrington said...

I would love to see Kemp back on the court. He never had any major injuries he is in good shape, Kemp would have a few good seasons left. Heck right now he would give fans a reason to go to a game to see if he can still throw down. And the last few seasons in the league he developed a great midrange jump shot. As for Pippen well a great player and champion but 41 maybe come back and coach.

2-19-2007 @ 11:46PM

Darren said...

If Kemp came back as a sonic it would be weird to see a player actualy play defence. You could put Kemp in the lineup today and he would be better than most sonics on the court. I would love to see kemp back in the game. He played summer league in Houston and from the highlights I saw he still posterized some current players. Lets see what he can do. And Pippen whos coat tails will he follow this time.