As one of the tallest players in the NBA, 7-foot Chris Kaman courts questions usually tossed to meteorologists.
“What’s the weather like up there?” is typical.
Kaman once had a growth spurt of 6 inches — shooting from 6 foot 2 inches to 6 foot 8 inches between his freshman and sophomore years of high school.
A center for the New Orleans Hornets, Kaman continues to grow in his faith. “I am stronger in my faith. I try to focus on that fact and not worry about everything else and let Him take care of it. There are a lot of obstacles, but you have to keep focused.”
Through prayer, Bible study, devotions and encouragement from his wife, Emilie, Kaman tries to “stay persistent” in his walk with Christ.
He and Emilie have been reading Gary Chapman’s book “The 5 Love Languages.”
“We try to learn about each other. Doing this devotional is valuable. I am the (spiritual) leader of the house. There are a lot of things that I am held accountable for. I have to make sure that I am doing those things the right way.”
Kaman has learned something about himself.
“I am selfish. I really am. It’s hard for me to admit that. It’s the truth. I have to think about her first, then about family and friends. It’s not about me. It’s about them. It’s about showing other people who Christ is. That is our goal on this earth. All this other stuff can fade away at the end, but what have you done for Christ? The most important thing is trying to lead people in the right direction.”
Kaman changed directions right before the 2011–12 season, going from the city LA to the state LA.
An all-star with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2010, he was traded to New Orleans in a deal that sent Hornets star Chris Paul to the Clippers.
Averaging 9.6 points and 7.1 rebounds this season, Kaman has had to adjust. “I’m trying to figure out what is going on and how everything works. It’s been interesting. That is the word I am going to use,” he said.
This is the final season of his contract, and Kaman doesn’t know where he will be for the 2012–13 season.
Injuries during two seasons proved distracting, but he didn’t dwell on the frustrations.
“I let Him take care of it and try not to think about it. It’s not always easy.”
Attending Tri-Unity Christian School in Wyoming, Mich., Kaman was shocked he said when he first went to Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant and began to learn about the real world. The NBA is “more extreme” in learning about “all life has to offer. Each step, you learn more about the world and what is out there. You try to grow closer in your faith.”
Team chaplains with Central Michigan and Los Angeles helped him spiritually.
Kaman became a Christian when he was young, he said. His parents, LeRoy and Pam Kaman — who have been married 34 years, took him to church regularly.
Kaman, 29, was the 2003 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. His .608 field goal percentage was the school’s all-time best. After earning honorable mention All-America in 2003, he declared for the NBA draft and was picked sixth overall by the Clippers.
During the 2009–10 season, he averaged a career-high 18.5 points. Kaman’s career best in rebounding was 12.7 in 2007–08.
“You’ve definitely got to score in the post and rebound, block shots and be able to make your teammates better. You’ve got to be able to do a little pick and pop action and lead the team. You’ve got to be competitive.”
New Orleans forward/center Jason Smith called Kaman a “monster player. He is one of a kind. … He can play inside, he can play outside. He scores 20 points. He’s getting 10 boards. He is that type of player.”
New Orleans teammates have given him the nickname “Turbo.” “He’s always talking, always doing something. He makes you smile because you are like, ‘Does this guy ever slow down?’” Smith said.
Another NBA big man, 7-foot-1-inch center Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies, said Kaman is a “great player with a lot of talent. If you are in this league, it’s for a reason.”
With his grandparents living in Germany, Kaman has dual citizenship. He played for the German national team in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. In five games, he averaged 10.4 points and 6 rebounds.
During the off-season, he practices on a court he built near his parents’ Michigan home and not far from where he had an embarrassing moment.
Climbing a tree when he was a child, Kaman got stuck at the top, and firemen had to use a ladder to get him down.
One of his goals is to display his Christianity by being a good example.
“It’s a difficult job (playing in the NBA) and to be a Christian and live the way you are supposed to,” Kaman said. “You have to say it by your actions and the examples you set for other people. You don’t always do the best job at that, but you move in that direction.”
While admitting it is difficult to do, Kaman wants to “let everything go and let Him handle it. That is one of my prayers, to give everything to Him.”
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