Top 5 Power Forwards in OKC Thunder History
Shawn Kemp
The duo many Thunder fans are used to seeing connect on an alley-oop is obviously comprised of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. But before Durant and Westbrook, there was Gary Payton and the man many like to call “The Reign Man,” due to his vicious dunks, Shawn Kemp. Kemp was just as much an athletic marvel as Ibaka and it’s a wonder that Kemp never seriously damaged a rim during his time in the NBA.
Over his career, Kemp averaged 14.6 points per game and 8.4 rebound per game. He was the perfect big man complement to his Payton, his star point guard, and the two did a lot of damage in their time together on the court.
During his prime, Kemp was a statistical monster and averaged a double-double in six straight seasons. In his best season in Seattle, Kemp averaged 18.7 points and 10 rebounds to go along with 1 block, 1.5 steals, and 1.9 assists. That season Kemp was finished 7th in MVP voting. Kemp was selected to six All-Star games and three All-NBA Second teams.
Had Kemp not seen his play decline due to cocaine and alcohol abuse, he could have continue an already impressive career and built on it. However, that does not take away from Kemp’s amazing feats in his career and still places in the top of these rankings as the greatest power forward in SuperSonics/Thunder history.