Former NBA All-Star Shawn Kemp has pleaded guilty to a second-degree assault charge stemming from a 2023 shooting incident in a Tacoma, Washington, mall parking lot. The incident involved Kemp firing a gun at two men inside a Toyota 4Runner, resulting in damage to the vehicles but no reported injuries.
Initially facing first-degree assault charges with a firearm enhancement, Kemp was also accused of another assault count and a drive-by shooting charge. The recent plea deal significantly reduces the potential legal consequences that Kemp could have faced if the case proceeded to trial.
Kemp, now 55, is set to be sentenced in August. The Indiana native had a successful 14-year NBA career, earning six All-Star selections and three All-NBA Second Team honors. Known for his time with the Seattle SuperSonics, Kemp was a key player in the team’s run to the 1996 NBA Finals.
Throughout his career, Kemp played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Orlando Magic, averaging 14.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. His best scoring season occurred in 1998–99 with the Cavaliers, where he averaged 20.5 points per game.
The upcoming sentencing will determine the final legal outcome for Kemp, a case that has overshadowed the legacy of one of basketball’s most dynamic players.
