Chris Kaman
A skilled, old-school center with a surprising jump shot, he became an All-Star for the long-suffering Clippers and later played for the German national team.
Born 1982 (age 44)·German-American basketball player·Birthday: April 28·Millennials
Biography
Chris Kaman's path to the NBA was an unlikely one. A tall, somewhat uncoordinated kid from Grand Rapids, Michigan, he was cut from his high school team as a sophomore. Growth spurts and relentless work changed his trajectory, leading him to Central Michigan University, where he blossomed into a first-round draft pick. Selected by the perennially struggling Los Angeles Clippers, the big man with the floppy hair and soft touch became a fan favorite during the 'Lob City' prelude. In 2010, he earned an All-Star nod, a rare bright spot for the franchise, averaging a double-double with a array of effective post moves and a reliable mid-range shot. His career was a journey through the league's changing landscape, playing for six teams and adapting his ground-bound game as the NBA sped up. Of German descent, he embraced his heritage, obtaining a passport and becoming a key player for the German national team, including a memorable bronze medal run at the 2002 FIBA World Championship.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Chris was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Chris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected as an NBA All-Star in 2010 while playing for the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds that season.
- Played a central role for the German national team, winning a bronze medal at the 2002 FIBA World Championship.
- Was the 6th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, a class that included LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwyane Wade.
- Averaged a double-double (15.7 ppg, 12.7 rpg) for the Clippers during the 2007-08 season, establishing himself as a premier rebounder.
- Played 13 seasons in the NBA for six different franchises, including a starting role on a Dallas Mavericks playoff team.
Did You Know?
He holds dual American and German citizenship and was nicknamed 'The Germanator' during his time with the national team.
He was famously cut from his high school basketball team in tenth grade before a significant growth spurt.
His distinctive appearance—pale complexion, long blond hair, and mustache—made him one of the NBA's most recognizable players in the 2000s.
He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting and fishing during the off-season.
In 2014, he was part of the trade that sent his draft classmate, Carmelo Anthony, from the Denver Nuggets to the New York Knicks.
“I just go out there and try to get the ball in the hole.”
