Just put, Hall of Famer Larry Bird and former NBA star Shawn Kemp faced up on the wrong night.
In 1989, Kemp made his professional debut for the Seattle Supersonics, having joined the league immediately following his high school graduation. Bird was fully motivated to give the young Kemp a rough night.
Although Kemp was regarded by some as the best player to come out of Indiana, both players were raised there. Kemp claimed that when an article published in USA Today suggesting that Bird was declining, things became even more difficult.
“He came out that night to make a statement and I was just a prime candidate,” Kemp stated in a recent podcast interview with All The Smoke. “Before the game, he shook his head at me and said, `It’s going to be [expletive] up night for you.” ‘
Kemp was already at a disadvantage after claiming that Xavier McDaniel, a top player for the Sonics, was experiencing knee trouble. Kemp was left with the task of protecting Bird.
