Shawn Kemp, the high-flying former Seattle SuperSonics star, is finally opening up about the Tacoma Mall shooting that upended his life and the legal fallout that followed. At 56, he says the case forced him into a hard look in the mirror, sparked major weight loss and pushed him toward renewed community work, all while the NBA weighs expansion that could eventually bring the Sonics back to Seattle.
In an interview with The Seattle Times, Kemp said a Sonics return "is good for the community" and added that he still believes the franchise will come back to Seattle. He told the paper the arrest and trial forced him to reassess his life and that he has dropped about 130 pounds in the process. The interview also notes that Kemp describes his role with prospective ownership groups as "very minor."
Kemp pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in May 2025 for firing at two men inside a vehicle outside the Tacoma Mall in March 2023, a move that came just before jury selection was to begin, according to coverage of when he pleaded guilty to second-degree assault. Prosecutors had initially filed more serious counts before agreeing to the reduced charge.
What Happened At Tacoma Mall
Local reporting and court records show Kemp used tracking data to follow items he believed were stolen to the Tacoma Mall parking lot, where an exchange of gunfire followed. Kemp fired at an occupied Toyota 4Runner, though no one inside was struck, according to The News Tribune. Pierce County prosecutors had said the case could have carried far harsher penalties before the plea agreement narrowed the charges, and surveillance footage along with witness testimony featured heavily during the pretrial phase.
Kemp's Community Work And Plans
Kemp told The Seattle Times that the episode pushed him toward self-reflection and toward a new focus on helping others. He says he is working to start a foundation that will provide mental health resources to people experiencing homelessness. According to the interview, the Reign Man Foundation plans to host a 1-v-1 hoops tournament at the Seattle Vintage Fair on May 9, 2026, as part of that outreach. Kemp framed the effort as a way to give back to neighborhoods he says deserve attention more than headlines.
Business Ties
Kemp also remains a visible local entrepreneur. His Shawn Kemp's Cannabis brand lists dispensaries in SoDo and Belltown, with the SoDo shop highlighted on the company site Kemp's Cannabis. The stores keep his ties to Seattle neighborhoods intact even as he insists his role in any Sonics ownership bid should stay limited.
Where The Sonics Stand
The bigger question hanging over everything is timing. NBA leaders have said they are exploring expansion but are wary of moving too fast. Commissioner Adam Silver told sports editors in New York, "I think this summer would be premature, but there is time between the summer and the end of the calendar year," according to syndicated reporting by The News Tribune. That window would give the league time to vet bidders and sort logistics if Seattle is ultimately selected.
Legal Implications
As part of his plea, Kemp is barred from possessing firearms and must provide a DNA sample, The Associated Press reported. The court later ordered 30 days of electronic home monitoring and 240 hours of community service instead of additional jail time, per The Associated Press. Those conditions will shape any future public role Kemp pursues and place clear limits on what he can do.
Kemp's turn toward community programming and his deliberately lower-profile stance in franchise talks show a former star trying to reshape his place in Seattle. How much that changes the way the city and the NBA view him may depend as much on the Sonics' fate as on his next moves.
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