Kemp’s Rebirth Reign Man Reigns Supreme In Cleveland
Shawn Kemp grips the ball in one hand and directs traffic with the other. His rookie teammates revolve around the court as if the Reign Man were their puppeteer.
Then Kemp does what everyone knows he will do but can’t stop. He whirls quickly, spraying sweat in his wake, and bursts toward the basket for a rim-rattling dunk. It wouldn’t be complete without a sauntering, snickering, head-wagging finish.
Not even two months into a season of change and transition, Kemp is reaching a comfort zone in Cleveland.
“I didn’t have to say anything to Gary Payton when I wanted the ball,” said Kemp, who has started his career anew with the young Cavaliers after eight years in Seattle. “I could just give him a little signal. It’s getting to that point here, with Brevin Knight.”
Kemp and the Cavs have been one of the NBA’s biggest surprises so far this season. Boosted by an inspiring 10-game winning streak that ended last week, they sport a 15-9 record heading into today’s game against the Utah Jazz.
Surrounded by four talented rookies playing major minutes, Kemp has left the sulking behind in Seattle and made a commitment to coach Mike Fratello. It was a match that many doubted would work - Fratello the disciplinarian and Kemp the free spirit.
“I don’t judge people based on hearsay and reports,” Fratello said of Kemp, the most prolific offensive player he’s coached since Dominique Wilkins in Atlanta. “He’s been terrific.”
Kemp, a five-time All-Star, was known for acrobatic dunks and boundless emotion in Seattle. With a wink and a nod, he and Payton teamed up on awesome alley-oops that rocked KeyArena and demoralized opponents. The SuperSonics made it to the NBA finals in 1996, losing to the Chicago Bulls.
But Kemp vowed never to play another game in a Sonics uniform unless he got an enormous raise. Seattle parted ways with its star forward, trading him to Cleveland.
The Sonics got Vin Baker from Milwaukee, with Tyrone Hill and Terrell Brandon going from Cleveland to the Bucks. The Cavs, who spent the past few seasons boring their fans and clearing salary cap room, signed Kemp to a reported $107 million, seven-year deal.
All three teams seem better off.
Despite the Cavs’ fine start, Kemp and company have sometimes faltered in their new roles.
Kemp, who never played in college, always has been flashy but mistake-prone. He wasn’t in the best of shape when training camp started and only recently began to resemble his old high-flying self.
There have been some embarrassing moments, like a 10-turnover game against Boston and a missed alley-oop in a 94-83 loss at Atlanta last week.
Fratello must be biting his tongue as he stands calmly on the sideline, arms folded and mouth shut.
“I don’t want him to feel that he’s got to get 30 points, 20 rebounds and five blocks every night,” Fratello said. “It’s a different kind of presence.”
Kemp seemed content to fall in line behind Payton at Seattle. He has no choice but to lead in Cleveland, where he plays with rookies Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Derek Anderson, Brevin Knight and Cedric Henderson. Wesley Person opens things up with his outside shooting, but he’s only 26.
So far, Kemp has accepted the challenge. Ask Henderson, a dynamic, 6-foot-7 forward in the Scottie Pippen mold who passed up an easy lane to the basket in a recent game. Kemp was furious.
“Ced, you’ve got to go strong,” shouted Kemp, chief of the slam-dunk police. “Strong, you hear?”
“He teaches offense,” Henderson said. “He knows how to go to the hole.”
Kemp’s next task is to fill the void that is Gund Arena in wintertime. Attendance and interest are slowly on the rise - with help from Kemp, on and off the court.
Dissatisfied with the ambiance of the 4-year-old arena, Kemp submitted musical requests for the sound system. It’s not as raucous as Richfield Coliseum yet, but fans are responding. Once in a while, the cheers drown out Fratello’s screaming.