Former NBA star Kemp charged with drug possession

[Porter]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

King County prosecutors said Kemp and Gavin Lamar Jones were arrested about 1 a.m. on April 4 in the Seattle suburb of Shoreline, after a county sheriff's deputy noticed a large truck belonging to Kemp sitting behind a closed car wash.

According to court papers, when the deputy approached the truck, the driver's door was open and a strong smell of marijuana was coming from inside the vehicle. Kemp initially said the pair had smoked marijuana earlier and there was none in the vehicle, but later told the deputy there was ``a bag full,'' in the truck.

Deputies searched the truck and found a black leather bag containing a loaded 9mm handgun registered to Kemp and about 1.2 grams of cocaine. Jones claimed the bag was his and that he had owned the gun for a couple of years, but did not know the make or model of the weapon.

This is just sad. He was such a fan favorite in Seattle. He continues to fight problems with drugs. He was one of my favorite players when he was here and it just hurts to see a guy like this continue to have problems like that. Having seen him before at camps, he was a really nice guy when the Sonics held camps to help the childrean.

[Steak]

It's really sad how Kemp's life has turned out to be.

[Porter]

Its honestly frustrating for me to even read that right now.

[Steak]

Shawn was a guy who went on with his business in a quiet and professional manner. He was so productive back then. Ever since he had that big contract with the Cavaliers, he never became the same after that. It's too bad. I loved watching him.

[RockSports17]

Kemp was a great basketball player, he was a household name at one point in his career. It's always horrible to see these type of things happen to players. Hopefully he cleans it up, and moves his life in a better direction.

[Porter]

It seems like its a neverending battle with Kemp though. I wished never left Seattle to this damn day (F**k Vin Baker).

[RockSports17]

IIRC, he has always suffered with drug problems. The last few yrs of his career his game really dwindled down. I have to say his best point in his career has to be when he played with the SuperSonics.

[Kobe]

I remember getting the Shawn Kemp Reeboks when I was in 6th grade. *nods*

[Porter]

Shawn Kemp was a HUGE Icon in Seattle. The fans treated him like a son in these parts. Its just sad that he left and all this happened.