Detlef Schrempf was the complete package.  He could score, pass, rebound, run the court and really shoot.  His ability to do everything made him the perfect sixth man; and he had that really cool German name.  People tend to forget that he (not Dirk Nowitzki) was the first European star to hit the NBA.  That has got to count for something!  He had a very solid career, but not spectacular and never playing on a winner; though he did come close with Seattle, hurts his overall Hall chances.  Nevertheless, Schrempf is in the FIBA Hall of Fame, and could sneak in the Naismith Hall via the International Committee.

“Butterbean” Bob Love has one of the coolest names ever and for sure one of the coolest nicknames.  Oh and did we mention that he was a pretty good forward too?  Teaming with Chet Walker for the Bulls in the 70s, this forward combo may have been one of the best ever.  Love was a great scorer who could really get to the hoop; and if you played under Dick Motta as he did, then of course you played defense.  Love’s career is a story of perseverance.  Coming from tiny Southern University he was cut from the NBA on his first try and went down to the Eastern League to gain experience.  It took being drafted in an expansion draft by the Bulls and Motta’s confidence in him before he would become a star.  He averaged 17.6 points a game in his career and was a three time All-Star and twice made all league second team.  His chances of getting in rely on Walker and the rest of his Bulls teammates getting recognition.  If Chet Walker gets in, it might open the door to this superb forward getting some attention.

Larry Kenon is one of the least appreciated players ever.  A great big man who led Memphis to the title game in his only year there, Kenon won an ABA title with Dr. J and the Nets in his first year in the ABA.  He was a three-time All-Star in the ABA but his legacy is as one of the greatest players who made the transition to the NBA.  Kenon continued his solid play with the San Antonio Spurs where he teamed with George Gervin to form one of the best scoring duos in the NBA for years.  He made two more All-Star trips in the NBA and had four consecutive seasons of twenty points a game.  Kenon was a twenty-ten guy for most of his career but was also very versatile.  How versatile?  He holds the league record for steals in a game with eleven.  Sounds like a well rounded player to us.

Shawn Kemp was one of the most popular and productive players of the 1990s. He came straight out of high school as Seattle’s First Round with the body of a Greek God and was considered one of the best pure athletes in the NBA. Kemp struggled as a rookie, but the Power Forward averaged over 15 Points and 9 Rebounds over the next two years while adopting the nickname of the “Reign Man,” one of the best nicknames of the sport.

Along with Gary Payton, Kemp and the SuperSonics emerged as contenders.  Seattle won the Western Conference Finals, though they lost to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.  Though Kemp did not win a title with Seattle, from 1992-93 to 1996-97m he was one of the best players in the game.  In that five-year period, Kemp was a perennial All-Star, earned three Second Team All-NBAs and averaged well over a double-double with strong blocking numbers.   The Cleveland Cavaliers traded for Kemp in 1997, but before long, it was evident he was not the same “Reign Man.”

Kemp was still a very good player in his first two years with the Cavaliers, adding a sixth All-Star in 1997-98, and had a career-high 20.5 Points per Game the year after.  While he was still productive, his weight was becoming a problem, and as he got older, it became a bigger problem.  Kemp was traded to Portland, and was unable to average 10 Points per Game and was demoted to the bench.  He played two years there, then a final one in Orlando before he retored.

Kemp’s recent legal troubles involving a connection to a drive-by shooting won’t help his Hall of Fame cause, as did other past drug arrests, and his weight problems.  That should not negate what he did accomplish on the court, which was very impressive.