7 children, 6 women, 3 arrests and 1 shooting: A brief look at the wild life of Shawn Kemp

Shawn Kemp was an explosive and physically imposing player, who dominated the power forward position in the NBA. His versatile technique made him a well-rounded player, however, he was known for his powerful dunks and tenacious defense.

Unfortunately, it's not just his playing years that have generated headlines for him, with everything from gun crime and drug convictions plaguing his retirement years.

Shawn Kemp was born on November 26, 1969, in a small town called Elkhart, Indiana. The former basketball player was widely regarded as one of the most exciting players of his generation and played in the NBA from 1989 to 2003, primarily with the Seattle Supersonics and the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was No.17 in the 1989 draft.

A recent scandal in Washington saw Shawn Kemp involved in a shooting. The former star of the Seattle Supersonics was arrested and put in jail by the Pierce County Police regarding a drive-by shooting that he was involved in.

The police report started there was an altercation between the occupants of two vehicles near a mall that ended with several gunshots at the scene of the crime. Nobody was injured and one of the cars fled the scene. At the scene, the officers recovered a firearm and would later book Kemp into police custody.

The former NBA star claimed that the reason for the altercation was the theft of an iPhone and other valuable objects that belonged to Kemp.

After locating the thieves via phone GPS, he was greeted with hostile gunfire which only forced him to shoot back. In the end, no charges were filed against Kemp, and he was released later that day.

This was not his first brush with the law as Kemp was also arrested in Shoreline, Washington, back in 2005 for drug possession. Kemp and another man were found with small amounts of cocaine, 60 grams of marijuana, and a semiautomatic pistol.

He was also arrested on July 21st, 2006, for more drug-related charges. The former NBA star pleaded guilty both times.

Kemp's turbulent life doesn't stop there. It's clear he likes to live life on the wild side and that doesn't stop at home either by the looks, as the NBA legend has seven children with six different women. The former NBA star is currently married to author, and former NFL cheerleader, Nikki Giavasis. Kemp was also previously married to Marvena L Thompson.

Although sources claim Shawn has fathered up to seven children, only two are publically named. His two sons Shawnw Kemp Jr. and Jamon Kemp both took their fathers' steps and began a career in basketball.

Shawn Kemp Jr. was born in 1991 and played at the University of Washington from 2011-2015. His other son, Jamon Kemp born in 2000, now plays as a guard for Southeastern Louisiana University. In 2021 he played 22 games and averaged 10 points a game.

While the former Seattle Supersonics star has clearly had his issues off the court there is no getting around the fact that he is still a certified NBA legend.

He was a six-time NBA All-Star, and he was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 1994 and 1995. A great achievement when looking at the NBA competition those years, having some of the greatest like Jordan, Pippen, and Dumars.

Kemp was also called up to join the ranks of the national Olympic basketball team in 1996, a team that would later go on and wins the gold medal in Atlanta. Kemp’s sporting career made him into a star, with an estimated net worth of $5.2mn from his career and endorsement deals.

After retiring from the NBA, Kemp has remained active in the Seattle community and is an active participant in the Sonics' homecoming celebrations. He also works as a motivational speaker for young adults in the community.

Kemp has also served as a mentor and a basketball coach for the young community of Seattle. Regardless of status and fame, his dedication to the community is unmatched. He continues to be remembered as one of the most promising and exciting players of his generation.