We've arrived at the halfway point of the countdown, and only 10 remain.  It's no surprise that the "Reign Man" makes the list at #10, as Shawn Kemp is one the greatest and most unforgettable Cavaliers of all-time.  Although he had his share of problems, and didn't quite live up to the expectations, like several others he makes the countdown for his sheer dunking ability.
  
The legendary Shawn Kemp was born in Elkhart, Indiana in 1969.  He balled at Concord High School, and after graduating signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Kentucky.  The story of why he didn't end up playing for the Wildcats is priceless.  Allegedly (likely), he was kicked off the team before the start of the season for pawning two gold chains for $800, that belonged to his teammate Sean Sutton.  Have to admire his entrepreneurial mindset.  He transferred to Trinity Valley Community College in Texas, but it was too late in the season for him to play.  After one semester, Shawn Kemp at 19 years of age declared himself for the 1989 NBA Draft. 

At 6 ft. 10" and 280 lbs, the Seattle Supersonics drafted Kemp in the 1st round with the 17th overall pick.  He quickly made an impact in Seattle, and was instantly one of the elite ballers in the Association.  He was one of the NBA's premiere dunkers, and could jump out of the building.  The Reign Man was the youngest player in the league, and arguably the most exciting.  Halfcourt alley-oop connections from Gary Payton to Shawn Kemp became the norm.  GP and Kemp were an unreal duo, and their team was pretty successful. 

Kemp played for the "Dream Team 2" in 1994, when the USA went on to win the Gold at the World Basketball championship.  Some say his career peaked during the 1995-1996 season, when Seattle won a franchise-record 64 games, and made an NBA Finals appearance.  He also led the league in rebounding for the 3rd straight year.  Unfortunately, the NBA championship dreams were dashed due to a matchup with Michael Jordan and the 72 regular-season win Chicago Bulls.  The series did go 6 games, but MJ was not about to be denied. 

After the Finals, Kemp thought he was due for a raise.  For reasons unknown, Seattle instead gave an unknown scrub Jim McIlvaine a 5 year, $35 million contract.  The entire Supersonics fan base was enraged, as was the Reign Man.  The growing tension with management resulted in the blockbuster trade that sent Kemp to the Cleveland Cavaliers.  He promised he would not report to training camp if he was still a Supersonic.  He cut off all communication with the team, and even refused phone calls from Gary Payton. 

The Cavs acquired the 5-time all star from Seattle along with point guard Sherman Douglas from the Milwaukee Bucks.  In turn, the Cavaliers sent All-star PG Terrell Brandon, Tyrone Hill, and our 1998 first-round pick to Milwaukee, who sent their All-Star forward Vin Baker to Seattle.

He became a rich man when he got to Cleveland.  Management made him the 5th member of the NBA's $100 million club when they offered him an extension.  Reports were that the deal was worth around $107 million for 7 years.  He appreciated the gesture of faith.

Shawn Kemp's tenure as a Cleveland Cavalier would only last from 1997 to 2000, and his career was on the downside.  We welcomed him with open arms, and were excited to have a player who was at least once an All-Star.  Wayne Embry after the Cavaliers signed Kemp, "Cavs owner Gordon Gund has made a commitment to get the team back in contention for an NBA championship.  We all look forward to many exciting years of Shawn Kemp leading the Cavaliers."

He battled weight problems, and wasn't exactly the "Reign Man" anymore.  During a preseason exhibition game, he left the bench when he saw teammate Vitaly Potapenko get punched by Minnesota's Clifford Rozier.  He was suspended for the season opener, and was fined $107,000.  Give him credit for sticking up for his teammate.  He appeared in 80 games that season, and led the Cavaliers in scoring with 18 points per game, shooting almost 45% from the field. 

The Cavaliers were ready to relieve themselves of his enormous contract, and traded him to Portland after the 1999-2000 season.  It was all downhill from there; It appeared that his time in Cleveland would be his last mildly-respectable campaign.  His weight became a serious issue, and he struggled with cocaine and alcohol addictions.  His season ended early when he entered drug rehab.  It is also well documented that he fathered 7 children by 6 women.  Kemp was arrested several times for marijuana possession, and his NBA comeback attempt did not look likely. 

He has done some positive things in his life, let's not forget.  In 1989, he dressed up like Santa and gave out food and toys to poor children.  As of late he has turned things around somewhat, and in April of 2008 he donated $70,000 to the YMCA in his hometown of Elkhart.  "My family and I are happy to give back to the Elkhart community and support the YMCA’s campaign to help local kids,” Kemp said in a statement. “The Elkhart YMCA is where it all started for me as a basketball player and Elkhart will always be home to me.”

Shawn Kemp is a Cavalier and NBA great.  The sad story of his decline does not take away from the fact that he is widely considered one one the Association's most electrifying dunkers of all-time.  He is currently playing with Premiata Montegranaro, a team in Italy.  Cleveland got to witness some of the last days of this legend, and we should consider ourselves pretty lucky for his time here.  The Reign Man will not be forgotten.  Shawn Kemp is Underrated

                    

At this point, I'm making my picks and sticking with them.  I'm sure that there will be many who see the remaining 17 and say, "How could he put him over Terrell?"  The reason is, because I didn't truly start watching all of the games until the 1996 season, Terrell's last with the Cavaliers.  My top 20 list is dedicated to those Cavaliers I can remember watching.

That being said, #18 on our list is the great Terrell Brandon.  Born in Portland, Oregon, Terrell attended Grant High School and eventually went on to lead his team to the Division III state title in 1988, the same year I was born.

Terrell decided to attend the University of Oregon, and he immediately was identified as top NBA recruit for the 1991 NBA Draft.  The Cleveland Cavaliers selected 5 foot 11" Brandon with the 11th pick overrall.  He naturally became the leader of team, which had historically been a mockery in the Association.  He kept developing his skillset, and eventually was named an Eastern Conference All-Star in 1996, and then again in 1997.  That's impressive for a mediocre team at best.

Terrell never really fully appreciated his nickname, "The Lone Ranger" but did admit that it fit his personality.  "I'm a people person when I'm with people," he said, "but I'm not out there to meet people."  In a 1997 Sports Illustrated issue, Terrell was named the Best Point Guard in the NBA.  Pretty impressive when you consider he was playing on a team that finished 42-40, good enough for 5th place in the Central Division.  He played alongside other Top 20 candidates Danny Ferry, Bobby Phills, and Bob Sura.

In the Sports Illustrated issue, Brandon was touted for his focus on basketball and not on being a superstar.  He was quoted as saying that there's not a city in the NBA that he could describe, nor a restaurant that he could name.  "People think I'm going to use my money to buy cars," he said, "but I'd rather give it to my church, to my family, do something I can be proud of. All those days sitting in the hotel room, looking out the window, this is what I'm thinking about. What can I do to make my son 5 year old Trevor proud of me. What can I do so my parents will be proud of me."

The simplicity of his life surprised many. He sought no endorsements, no press coverage, none of the trappings of stardom. "This life is easy if you let it be," he explained, bewildered that anyone might court fuss. "I won't complicate mine. I play the game, go home, wait for the next day. I don't want any stress in my life."

In addition to being dubbed "The Best Point Guard in the NBA" in 1997, Brandon also won the NBA Sportsmanship Award.  Class all the way.  Brandon was traded along with Tyrone Hill in 1997 to the Milwaukee Bucks, in the infamous Shawn Kemp deal.  He finished his career in Minnesota and retired in 2001.

Those are a few things that separate "The Lone Ranger" from some of today's players, whose focus seems to be on celebrity status, advertising dollars, and creating a media buzz about their every move.  Holding a city hostage, while the head coach gets fired in an attempt to satisfy his every desire.  Wait a minute, that kind of sounds like LeBron now that I think about it.  The King could learn a thing or too from Terrell.  Terrell Brandon is Underrated