Portland Trail Blazers big man Chris Kaman is a character of great interest.
He’s the only Blazer with his own reality show, and likely the only Blazer who is a member of the National Rifle Association. He rocks “Air Sasquatch” across the tongue of his shoe.
He’s also been an All-Star, bounced around teams for the last three seasons and is hoping to finally catch on to a winning team. On the wrong side of 30, there is some question about how much he has left.
LaMarcus Aldridge was surprised with how much of a “jokester” Kaman was. Robin Lopez likes that Kaman also brings another interesting personality to the locker room.
“I think it’s good to have some levity around the league,” Lopez said. “He brings that in spades. We’re both crazy in our own ways, in different ways. I can see where he is coming from. I think we are at opposite ends of the crazy spectrum, but so far on opposite ends that it moves back around again.”
And while the Blazers, fans on social media and the media have enjoyed exploring Kaman, the personality, it’s what’s yet to happen that could help determine whether Portland can finally count on some production from their bench.
When you ask the Blazers about Kaman, the word “crafty” is a sure bet to come out in the first one or two sentences. In the low post and from the elbow are where Kaman applies that craftiness.
He’s had some very good performances in the preseason, flashing smart passing and good finishing.
The 11-year veteran has also intimated that he’s ready to take a backseat to Portland’s starters like Lopez and Aldridge while also feeling his way through the first weeks of training camp.
Kaman made his name with his offense in the league, but Lopez likes his defense. The Blazers bench needs both after often having to choose between options who rarely provided solid games on both ends.
“I think he’s very surprising defensively. He knows where to be. I think that’s huge for us,” Lopez said.
Kaman has also served as something of a mentor for Meyers Leonard, something Leonard hasn’t had throughout much of his career. The fact that Kaman goes back to his rookie year with Blazers assistant and former All-Star big man Kim Hughes has also gone a long way in helping establish Kaman’s relationship with the young Blazers big man.
Leonard even flew to Kaman’s compound in Michigan to work out with Kaman and Hughes.
And we’ve already been given hints as to how Kaman envisions his role, especially if Aldridge isn’t on the court.
“Everybody feeds off him pretty much so I know we are going to need a little boost,” Kaman said about what he can do when Aldridge sits. “Give them something they didn’t have let year. I think that’s something I can contribute.”
While Portland’s younger players are looking to find their way as consistent contributors and establish themselves in the league, Kaman is at the opposite end of the spectrum.
The former star had been traded and then floated on two lottery teams and put up good stats in limited time but with few wins and no playoff games to show for it.
He’s been quoted as saying his “ego is gone,” and even on the day he came to Portland, he offered he would do whatever is needed, even if that meant not playing every night.
Kaman signed early and Portland used their biggest asset of the offseason to sign him.
For this year’s team, the Blazers have to hope there is still some of the old Kaman left, so that Portland’s second units are no longer impotent on the offensive end.
