He was selected sixth overall in the first round of the 2003 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, after a college basketball career at Central Michigan University.

He went on to play for three seasons at Central Michigan University, leading them to a Mid-American Conference Championship and an NCAA tournament first-round win in 2003.

Kaman claims he decided to enter the NBA draft a year early so he could fund a chicken farm in his home state of Michigan.

[2] A year after his rookie season, Chris Kaman improved his play by averaging 9.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 25.9 minutes in 63 games (50 starts).

Despite the Clippers missing the playoffs again for the eighth year in a row, Kaman continued to show progress in his play.

The Clippers beat the Nuggets, but during the series against Denver, opposing player Reggie Evans reached in and yanked Kaman's testicles.

Kaman had raised his points and rebounds averages each season since he came into the league, and signed a five-year contract worth $52.5 million in October 2006.

After losing Shaun Livingston and Elton Brand for the majority of the 2007–08 season due to a dislocated knee and ruptured Achilles tendon, respectively, the Clippers had very little expectations to be as competitive as they were two years prior.

[8] They deactivated him as they searched for a trade partner, but decided to bring him back to the team after a week of being unable to find a suitable deal.

[12] Though observers speculated his recent performances would reopen trade discussions,[13][14] New Orleans ultimately decided to keep Kaman for the rest of the season.

[17] He managed just 39 games for the Lakers because of a crowded frontcourt and a few maladies that started (food poisoning) and a (calf strain) which ended his season.

[19] Kaman appeared in 74 games for Portland his first season, remaining mostly healthy as the primary backup and occasional starter behind Robin Lopez.

In his second season with the Trail Blazers, Kaman played in just 16 games, also logging minutes in Portland's first-round playoff victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Kaman played for the first time for the German national basketball team in the qualifying tournament leading up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Kaman spent much of his childhood on a farm[28][29] and as a child he used to tear shingles off neighbors' rooftops and misbehave in school.