Chris Kaman
The Clippers' ironman center who grew from rookie starter to All-Star.
Christopher Zane Kaman (pronounced: KAY-men) (born April 28, 1982) is a German-American former professional basketball player. Kaman stands 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) and played the center position. He was selected sixth overall in the first round of the 2003 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, after a college basketball career at Central Michigan University. In his rookie year, Kaman averaged 6.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 0.89 blocks and 22.5 minutes in 82 games played (61 starts). He was the only Clipper to play all 82 games, becoming only the second rookie in franchise history to do so.
- Draft Year
- 2003
- Draft Pick
- 6th Overall
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
By the end of the '05–'06 season, Kaman averaged 11.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.38 blocks in 32.8 minutes per game, appearing in 78 games (78 starts). He finished the regular season ranked 9th in the NBA in rebounds per game (9.6), 12th in FG% (.523) and 24th in blocks per game (1.38). The Clippers achieved their first winning record in 14 seasons and clinched their first playoff spot since 1997. During the first-round series against Denver, opposing player Reggie Evans reached in and yanked Kaman's testicles; Evans was later fined $10,000 for his actions. Kaman signed a five-year contract worth $52.5 million in October 2006. After losing Shaun Livingston and Elton Brand for the majority of the 2007–08 season, Kaman emerged as one of the most dominant centers in the NBA, averaging 15.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. Kaman was selected to his first All-Star Game as a reserve. He finished the season with almost a double-double, averaging a career high 18.5 PPG and 9.3 RPG.
In Their Own Story
The 2007–08 season arrived with the Clippers gutted by injuries — Shaun Livingston with a dislocated knee, Elton Brand with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Expectations were low. But Kaman emerged as one of the most dominant centers in the NBA, averaging 15.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. Although he did not play in enough games to qualify for the league's statistical leaders, his rebound and block averages would have both ranked third in the league. Kaman demonstrated his ability to perform without Brand alongside him. That season earned him his first All-Star Game selection as a reserve. He finished the season with almost a double-double, averaging a career high 18.5 PPG and 9.3 RPG, though the Clippers finished 29–53.
Reader's Guide
Chris Kaman was selected sixth overall in the first round of the 2003 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. In his rookie year, he averaged 6.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 0.89 blocks and 22.5 minutes in 82 games played (61 starts). He was the only Clipper to play all 82 games, becoming only the second rookie in franchise history (Michael Brooks, 1980–81) to do so. He finished the season ranked second among all rookies in blocked shots per game (.89 bpg), third in field goal percentage (.460) and fourth in rebounds per game (5.6 rpg), earning the starting Center position on the NBA Rookie All-Star Team. A year later, Kaman improved to 9.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 25.9 minutes in 63 games (50 starts), missing the first 11 games due to a left ankle sprain. By the '05–'06 season, he averaged 11.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.38 blocks in 32.8 minutes per game, appearing in 78 games (78 starts). He finished ranked 9th in the NBA in rebounds per game (9.6), 12th in FG% (.523) and 24th in blocks per game (1.38). The Clippers achieved their first winning record in 14 seasons and clinched their first playoff spot since 1997, beating the Denver Nuggets in the first round before losing to the Suns. Kaman signed a five-year contract worth $52.5 million in October 2006. In 2007–08, after losing Livingston and Brand, Kaman averaged 15.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game, earning his first All-Star selection. He finished the season with a career high 18.5 PPG and 9.3 RPG. On December 14, 2011, the Clippers traded Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Gordon and a 2012 first-round pick to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for Chris Paul and two future second-round picks.
Did You Know?
- Kaman was the only Clipper to play all 82 games in his rookie season, becoming only the second rookie in franchise history to do so (Michael Brooks, 1980–81).
- During the 2006 playoffs, opposing player Reggie Evans reached in and yanked Kaman's testicles; Evans was later fined $10,000.
- Kaman claims he decided to enter the NBA draft a year early so he could fund a chicken farm in his home state of Michigan.
- Kaman was misdiagnosed with Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder at age 2½ and took Ritalin to treat the condition.
- Kaman acquired German citizenship in July 2008 (his great-grandparents were German) to play on the Germany national basketball team in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, despite not speaking any German at the time.