Originally published Monday, September 29, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Pro Basketball | Italian team says arrivederci to Shawn Kemp

Former NBA All-Star Shawn Kemp's return to basketball ended before it started after Italian team Montegranaro Premiata broke off his one-year...

By The Associated Press

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Shawn Kemp intended to play for a team in Italy.

MONTEGRANARO, Italy — Former NBA All-Star Shawn Kemp's return to basketball ended before it started after Italian team Montegranaro Premiata broke off his one-year contract a week before its season is to begin.

Kemp spent nine days in Italy training with the team and playing in three exhibition games. The ex-Sonic traveled to the United States to check on his home in Houston after Hurricane Ike and didn't return.

"I am very sorry for my inability to return to the club in a timely manner due to personal issues," Kemp wrote in a letter posted on the team's Web site Saturday. "I'm very sorry that these unforeseen circumstances have resulted in the club's understandable decision."

Kemp, 38, had not played in the NBA since 2003, with Orlando, and has had legal problems in recent years.

In 2005, he was arrested on suspicion of possessing cocaine and marijuana in his truck in Shoreline. He pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted possession of more than 40 grams of marijuana, after the charge against him was amended from a felony to a gross misdemeanor. He was also arrested in 2006 in Houston and charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Kemp played 625 games for the Sonics, averaging 16.2 points.

Note

• Players Charlotte signed to its training-camp roster include forwards Marcus Williams, a graduate of Roosevelt High in Seattle who played 11 games in the NBA last season, and Andre Brown, an ex-Sonic.

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