Funny enough, Chris Kaman was taken sixth overall in the famous 2003 NBA Draft highlighted by LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. While his career pales in comparison to many of his draft classmates taken before him, Kaman would still go on to carve out a productive one spent mostly with the Clippers.
A lumbering center, Kaman’s area of operation was around the bucket on either block. This was at a time where traditional big men were still very much relevant and even necessary to compete. Kaman consistently provided a low-post threat that forced defenses to make adjustments.
His size was an obvious help in establishing great position down low, but Kaman also had quick feet near the rim. He was able to maneuver around defenders for easy layups. If opponents stayed in front of him, “The Caveman” could also float in jump-hooks with either hand or get them up in the air with numerous shot fakes.
Kaman was somewhat of a late bloomer, not developing into a solid role player until his fifth season in the league. It was in his seventh campaign where he’d make his first and only NBA All-Star appearance. He averaged a career-best 18.5 points to go along with 9.3 rebounds per game that season.
Given how much star power was in that famous 2003 NBA Draft class, Kaman’s career tends to be forgotten when recounting those players. However, he was a consistent inside presence for eight seasons in Los Angeles and was one of the 24 best players in the 2009-10 season. It wasn’t the most accomplished of careers, but it was a fruitful and productive one for both Kaman and the Clippers organization.