The 1990s was an epic decade for Seattle. As grunge rock sparked a music craze that put this city in the upper-left corner of the country into the spotlight of global popular culture, so too were the National Basketball League’s Seattle SuperSonics, who battled their way to the top of the NBA echelon. One of, if not the, most notorious of this team’s players was arguably the 6-foot-10 dunk tank who adopted the nickname “The Reign Man,” Shawn Kemp. Having spent 14 seasons in the league, making six All-Star teams and earning an Olympic gold medal for Team USA, his credentials are Hall of Fame-worthy.
Now he’s in the weed game with two retail shops in both the SoDo district and Belltown of Seattle. When Shawn played the game, the league did not condone Cannabis use for its players but have recently changed its policy. And now with athletes utilizing the plant in a multitude of ways, like for muscle recovery, anxiety and beyond, he’ll be the first one to tell you that his career would’ve lasted longer if he’d had legal access to the medicine. And maybe, just maybe, they would’ve beaten Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the ’96 Championship.
The vibe of hip-hop combined with the NBA has been instrumental in the development of Cannabis culture. Would you agree?
Absolutely. I think sports and music are very similar. We’re talking about entertainment. One will follow the other’s lead, and the reason they are both so influential is because people enjoy their time with sports and music, and Cannabis just accentuates the experience. So it makes sense that they would somehow blend to make people’s lives better.
What is the benefit to using Cannabis for an athlete?
Honestly, it doesn’t even really come down to smoking the plant. Just the topicals make a big difference in pain management, allowing your muscles to heal and rest. Back in the day we’d play three games in a row. Now they play two at the most. So any of these products, whether they’re on their knees and their joints, are an absolute bonus.
The Bulls won seven straight NBA championships when you were in the league. Do you think that’s possible for a franchise today?
I don’t because professional sports are so fan-oriented these days, the money is so big, and with free agency most players aren’t going to stay with a team that long because of the salary cap. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but improbable.
What’s one of your best memories playing ball?
As I look back, what I remember the most was putting smiles on people’s faces. I always got a lot of joy out of that. Most of us humans don’t smile enough.
You still live in Seattle. Why?
My wife is from Seattle. We’ve been married 24 years. I’ve been in this fight to bring back the Sonics, and you’ll be hearing an announcement from the league in hopefully four to six months.
Will we see the Shawn Kemp banner hung from Climate Pledge Arena?
I think so. We’ll have a night for me, a night for Gary Payton, and a night for Detlef Schrempf.
What’s next for Kemp’s Cannabis?
Staying busy in the community and doing service for the people to always make our brand better.
If you could do a dab with anyone, past or present, who would it be?
Jack Nicholson. He would always sit courtside when we played against the Lakers, and sometimes when I was doing warmups, I could smell the green coming off him. I always wanted to smoke with Jack. I’d say, ‘Who’s got the skunk in here?’ And you knew it was Jack Nicholson.
