Chris Kaman lives a quiet life on a farm since retiring from NBA

Former NBA player Chris Kaman shoots a 3-pointer in a Gus Macker 3-on-3 tournament in Belding, Mich., on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

BELDING, Mich. - It isn’t hard to spot Chris Kaman in a crowd.

There aren’t a lot of 7-footers wandering around, even at a basketball tournament. The Grand Rapids, Mich., native has some gray in his beard now and added a few pounds to his frame. But Kaman, who spent 13 years playing in the NBA, laced on his basketball shoes one more time to play in the Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the small Michigan town of Belding on Saturday. 

Since he retired from the NBA in 2016, Kaman has mostly disappeared from the public eye.

“I don’t typically do a lot of interviews anymore,” Kaman said. “I told my wife and my family ‘once I’m done (playing basketball), I’m done. I get offers to do things sometimes, but I just want to stay out of the limelight, to be honest.”

Kaman created a buzz at the tournament once area fans realized he was playing. When he wasn’t on the court, he was being hounded for his autograph or to take a photo with him.

“Excuse me, are you the NBA guy?” a young girl asked Kaman. “My older brother said you are good. Can I get a photo with you?”

Kaman bent down and took a selfie with the girl.

“It comes with the territory,” he said. I could be a jerk about it, but that doesn’t make sense to me. I’m here, I’m available, and I want to make people as happy as I can. I try to be a genuinely kind person. That’s how I look at life.”

Chris Kaman signs autographs and takes photos with fans at the Gus Macker 3-on-3 tournament in Belding, Mich., on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Kaman played for five teams in the NBA: The Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers. He played with Damian Lillard,  Dirk Nowitzki and even Kobe Bryant.

But he was wearing a black Trail Blazers shirt while he played on Saturday.

“I just played for them last and I had a bunch of free stuff they gave me,” he said. “And this is comfortable.”

Kaman went to Wyoming Tri-Unity High School near Grand Rapids and then Central Michigan University. He was taken in the 2003 NBA Draft in the first round.

After his career ended, Kaman got married, had kids and moved to rural Michigan and bought a farm. 

“We have a small farm,” he said. “We have some cows and chickens. I just want to live a slower, calmer lifestyle. I want to raise my kids the best I can and take the time to do that.”

He moved 40 minutes north of Grand Rapids to Belding, Mich. 

“I live near Belding,” he said. “I live right down the road (from the tournament). I was living in Greenville, where I have some businesses. This is where we’ve built our family and where we want to be. We sold our house in Greenville, where we lived for about 10 years. Our kids have a cool school they go to. A small Christian school.”

Kaman said he’s played in a few Gus Macker tournaments since he retired, but wanted to play in this one because his 8-year-old son wanted to play, too.

“My son is playing for the first time,” he said. “He’s 8. I’m trying to enjoy my family time and spend some time with my friends as well. A buddy of mine roped me into playing in the Macker. I don’t normally do these either. I played in Gaylord this year and two years ago I played in Iron Mountain.”

One of his Gus Macker teammates played in the NBA as well. Robert Sacre, a 7-footer from Vancouver, played four years with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2012 to 2016. Sacre and Kaman were teammates on the 2013-14 Lakers team.

“Sacre was on the Lakers when I was there and we got to be good friends,” Kaman said. “We maintained our friendship since. He’s a fellow hard-working man. He’s got an excavating business.”

Former NBA player Chris Kaman, left, chats with Robert Sacre during a timeout at the Gus Macker 3-on-3 tournament in Belding, Mich., on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. The two 7-footers were teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Kaman still has fond memories of his roots. Especially playing for a small Division 4 high school like Tri-Unity Christian. But he regrets not winning a state title.

“My junior and senior year, we didn’t do as well as I thought we would,” he said. “My junior year we lost in the district finals and the next year we lost in the quarterfinals. And we had an unbelievable team. So that was disappointing.”

The Kaman and Sacre team got beat in the Gus Macker tournament by smaller, younger and more athletic opponents, but they still had fun.

“I just want to take it easy,” Kaman said of his post-playing career. “I went hard and gave everything I had in this sport.”

Grand Rapids native Chris Kaman played in the Gus Macker 3-on-3 tournament in Belding, Mich., on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).