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Rocky Mountain News, 4/27/06 KAMAN HAS SHOWN HE'S CENTERPIECE by Joseph D'Hippolito EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Potential comes in many guises. In one NBA center's case, it looks like the stereotypical surfer dude, complete with long, stringy blond hair and a scraggly beard, but stands 7 feet tall and has a case of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Yet, behind Chris Kaman's disheveled appearance, the Los Angeles Clippers see talent that can be refined into brilliance. "I think he's the white Tim Duncan," coach Mike Dunleavy said. "He's got the quickness afoot like Duncan to beat people. He's fundamentally sound, and he works at understanding the game." Sam Cassell is equally emphatic. "He's the key," Cassell said. "He's definitely going to be a top-five center in this league someday." Kaman showed the Nuggets what he can do by scoring 15 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in Los Angeles' Game 1 victory against Denver and followed that up with a 10-point, six-rebound effort in a Game 2 win. Tonight, though, he is a game-time decision because of a sprained right ankle. During the regular season, the three-year veteran achieved career bests in scoring (11.9 points), rebounding (9.6, ninth in the NBA), shooting percentage (.523) and blocked shots (108). "Playing in the summer league gave me a little confidence going into the season," said Kaman, who also attributed his improvement to the presence of veterans such as Elton Brand, Cuttino Mobley and Cassell. While improving his game, Kaman must deal with the ADHD he has had since his rugged childhood. "I was just real wild," Kaman said. "Wherever trouble was, I found it -- taking people's bikes and putting them on railroad tracks, climbing on neighbors' roofs and having shingle fights back and forth. Just crazy stuff. "When I'd come home, my parents really couldn't control me as well as they wanted, so they made me see somebody and I found out I had ADHD." Kaman was prescribed Ritalin but stopped taking it at Central Michigan University when it drastically reduced his appetite; he now refuses to take it, even though ADHD visits the court. "The biggest problem is when I'm in the huddles," Kaman said. "When I listen to Mike going over the plays, sometimes I find myself wandering a bit. But I just focus in and, usually, I'm OK. I ask a lot of questions. I want to know what's going on before it happens." The veterans do their part to keep Kaman focused. "We get on him about different things," Mobley said. "But you let him know that you believe in him. It's like with a child. You encourage, encourage and encourage. It's like, 'Yo, keep going, baby, I'm with you!' "Right there, he knows that somebody has his back so that, mentally, he won't be playing tricks with himself." Copyright 2006 The E.W. Scripps Co. --------------------------------------- Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/30/06 FAST BREAKING WITH ... CHRIS KAMAN, L.A. CLIPPERS Mike Dunleavy couldn't believe how wrong he was. He'd seen Chris Kaman in college and thought the Central Michigan center could be a really good pro. But here he was, asking Kaman to do simple drills in a workout before the 2003 draft, and Kaman was bombing. "He wasn't very good, didn't follow directions," Dunleavy recalled. "I was like ... how the hell can you be that wrong about somebody? Normally, you see somebody, you like them, you think they can play for you, and it really works. But you'd be way off on this guy. I just couldn't believe it." Frustrated, Dunleavy took off his sport coat and dress shoes, walked on the floor with the ball, and physically showed Kaman what he wanted him to do. And Kaman blossomed. He looked great again. It was Dunleavy's first lesson that Kaman, who suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), needed to be coached a little differently than others. ADHD is a neurological disorder that affects millions of people. Its symptoms include inability to maintain attention, impulsive behavior and motor restlessness. According to the Attention Deficit Disorder Association's Web site, about 4.4 percent of adults may have the disorder. Kaman, whom Dunleavy and the Clippers wound up taking sixth overall in that 2003 draft, is one of them. "I'm a visual learner," Kaman said. "I've always been hands-on since I was little. My dad's a mechanic on the side. I've been working on cars my whole life. I've always been interested in the outdoors, hunting, fishing. I've always liked to do stuff with my hands, actually take part in stuff and not just listen or hear someone say something." Kaman has continued to develop and grow with more intensive teaching. He's become one of the league's top centers, finishing ninth in rebounds (9.6) and tied for 21st in blocks (1.4) along with Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard. He's teamed with all-star forward Elton Brand to give the Clippers one of the best one-two big man combos in the league. As long as he doesn't have to listen for too long. "I couldn't sit here and go over the plays for two hours," Kaman said. "I'd go crazy."

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