NBA SUSPENDS KEMP FOR DRUG VIOLATION

TUALATIN - The NBA suspended Trail Blazers forward Shawn Kemp indefinitely
for violating the anti-drug policy on Friday, making this the second time
in less than a year the team has lost the forward for substance-related issues.

Last year, Kemp sought drug treatment in April.

The suspension will start with tonight's game against Denver and continue
"until he has resumed full compliance with his treatment program,"
according to an NBA news release.

The violation was not clear, the possibilities ranging from failing to show
up for a test to a positive result for a banned substance. The league,
teams and NBA Players' Association are prohibited from disclosing
information about the treatment and testing of a player.

Neither Kemp nor his agent, Tony Dutt, was available for comment Friday.

Blazers president and general manager Bob Whitsitt said he did not know
what rule Kemp had broken.

"Those are confidential and we were not told what the non-compliance is,"
he said.

Kemp, who is earning $12.77 million, will lose $141,889 for each game he
misses. His seven-year, $107 million deal runs through 2003-04.

"Shawn's been great," Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks said. "He hasn't done
anything to indicate that this would happen. He's been playing great. He's
done everything to indicate that this would not happen. It is pretty sad
that this has happened. We're here to support him no matter what."

Cheeks spoke with Kemp earlier in the afternoon and said the player was "a
little sad. A little disappointed in himself."

When asked if Kemp would enter rehab again, Whitsitt said, "I have no idea."