Clipperholics
Fansided

Los Angeles Clippers: Top 5 centers of all-time

By Tom West

Apr 3, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) hangs on the net as he waits to be introduced for the game against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) hangs on the net as he waits to be introduced for the game against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 7
Next

3rd place – Chris Kaman

Per game averages with Clippers: 29.7 minutes, 11.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.4 blocks,

Clippers totals: 8 seasons (2003-04 to 2010-11), 493 games, 5,813 points, 4,109 rebounds, 635 assists, 238 steals, 707 blocks, 48.7 field goal percentage.

Honors with Clippers: 1x All-Star (2009-10).

(Excuse the highlights shown above with Chris Kaman in a Lakers jersey. It’s the best footage I could find to show his game, except for the beautifully retro (pixelated) video below).

Chris Kaman is the first Clipper to appear on this list who represented the team in an NBA All-Star game. Unlike Swen Nater and Bill Walton, Kaman’s best years came during his time with the Clips, allowing him to earn a place high among the best centers in team history and earn his one and only All-Star appearance in 2009-10.

Elite athleticism was never in Kaman’s game. Neither was consistent defense. But, nevertheless, before the days of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, Kaman made up an impressive frontcourt tandem alongside Elton Brand earlier in the 2000s.

Before the days of Griffin’s playmaking, occasional flare such as this exited Clippers fans.

Even in recent years as his thirties have gotten underway, Kaman has been a skilled center. Capable of using both hands in the post and burying 45.6 percent of his shots from between 16 feet and the arc over the course of his career, he’s accounted for 70.8 percent of his career points with the Clippers. As a talented option in the post, capable passer and reliable mid-range threat, he became one of the team’s best centers after being drafted into L.A. as the 6th overall pick in 2003.

With that skill set and some tough work on the boards, Kaman had the best output of his career in 2007-08, averaging 15.7 points, 1.9 assists, and career-highs in rebounds (12.7) and blocks (2.8) per game.

Two years later, he made the All-Star team with a career-high 18.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks a night.

Through the best play of his career for eight years in L.A., Kaman climbed pretty high in the Clippers record books. As he accompanied Al-Farouq Aminu and Eric Gordon to New Orleans in the Chris Paul trade, Kaman finished 6th in Clippers history in minutes played (14,661), 6th in total rebounds (4,109) and just outside of the top 10 in total points (5,813).

Next: The Clippers' newest All-NBA star