Update on Chris Kaman becoming German

February 1, 2008

I just talked to David Hein who will publish an interview with German national coach Dirk Bauermann on FIBA.com. Here is the interview:

German national team coach Dirk Bauermann admitted the national federation would be foolish to not try to get the Clippers emerging big man a German passport.

“Of course, maybe we get lucky,” answered Bauermann to questions if he would like to have Kaman control the blocks for his national team side.

“We have Patrick (Femerling) who has played a great season. And hopefully he can carry that over to the national team. But obviously a guy like Chris Kaman would be an incredible addition.”

Upon further questioning if any efforts on-going to bring Kaman in, Bauermann added: “We would be stupid if it was possible and we didn’t. And I’m going to leave it at that.”

Watch out Chris – you will get a few calls in the next few days from Germany!

Feb 1, 2008ballineurope

This post was published on February 1, 2008

Comments: 17

Arkadios
17 years ago
Nowitzki-Kaman would be one of the hottest duos of European NT history.
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elaj
17 years ago
Almost as good as Smodiš-Nesterovič duo. 😛
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oliver
17 years ago
Chris Kaman is an absolute idiot, just because he isn’t good enough to play on the American team does not mean he should disobey his country and try to play for the german team, he is an insult to the United States of America and should be shunned upon by the United States government. He should know, as an American that you do not play for other nations, you respect your nation and if you are not a good enough player to play for your own country you should have the utter most respect for the players that ARE good enough and respect them as players because they are better than you and they are playing basketball for your nation, America should take away Chris Kaman’s passport because of his intentions to play for another country, as an american citizen I am offended by Chris Kamans actions.
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yorckle
17 years ago
@ oliver: What if all the immigrants to the USA hadn’t disrespected their home countries to become Americans. Take it easy. You’ve got enough centers already.

We could really use Chris Kaman on the German team.
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Arkadios
17 years ago
This is a sport. Leave your idiotic ‘patriotism’ in your cave and come for a walk in Europe… you’ll like it…
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dick
17 years ago
oliver is a fag,. case closed.

kaman is a god.
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Tobias
17 years ago
nice nick name though …
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Colin
17 years ago
Relax Oliver; If the US Team doesn’t want Chris Kaman that’s their loss. If you don’t like this, you should see how it works in soccer. Seems like every national team has a Brazilian or two.
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Ryan
17 years ago
Other than Oliver, you are all complete retards. Kaman is a loser, plain and simple.
Kaman would never even be considered to play for the USA, he isn’t that good. He is a third tier player at best. If he made reserves for all-star team I would laugh. And question, how does having great grandparents being german even qualify? That is like saying that I am British because my ancestor was a 11th century king.
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walter
17 years ago
Ryan and Oliver, why react so uptight. If you really think Kaman is such a loser and a third tier player then you have no reason to fear, for him playing in the German team.

On the other hand as a neutral outsider (being neither German, nor American) I can imagine that I would feel more proud if my country was represented by a player, who has the nationality by birth. Or otherwise that a player has a strong connection with the particular country through his relatives (by preference one of the parents).
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Daniel
17 years ago
Whilst it is a stretch for Kaman to say he is is German because of his Great Grandparents, he is not the first player to change loyalties in order to go to the Olympics, and will not the be last. I wonder if Oliver and Ryan think The Dream was a traitor? He abandoned his country of birth to play for the USA. Should not have the USA ‘shunned’ him. What about Tim Duncan? Is he not a native of another country but choses to play for the USA when it suits? Whilst they are first teamers the reason they play for the US and not their native country is so they can WIN, ie putting themselves first before their country. That is all the Kaman is doing. Just relax, this is not a new phenomenon. You should be supporting him in his ambitions to play in the Olympics. We have this issue a lot in Australia as many of our football and basketball players go to other countries to play, due to their heritage, as they think they have a better chance to win. Bogut was heavily recruited by Croatia (or so it was reported here in Oz), but chose us (phew).
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Jay
17 years ago
If Kaman wants to play for another country which he has never been affiliated with, that’s fine, another American, J.R. Holden, is playing for Russia, don’t hear any complaints about that. I would never do that to my country, but playing on the Olympic stage is a big deal and we shouldn’t hate on people who are trying to get that chance. Tim Duncan isn’t from another country, U.S. Virgin Islands, emphasis on U.S. That is a completely different story than a player from a completely different nation going from one to the other so it is not a good comparison at all. Also, the Dream, as you call him, had been in America for 16 years before he played for the United States. Again, not a good comparison to a guy who just used his grand parents connection to get him in.
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Ryan
17 years ago
Okay, Daniel you are the dumbest of all. People born in the U.S. Virgin Islands are automatically US citizens. If Chris Kaman lived in Germany for 16 years it wouldn’t be a issue. Also, news flash, referring to football in the US is the NFL. There is only 2 professional leagues and both are in North America so it wouldn’t be possible for people to go play elsewhere professionally nor would anyone want to. As far as soccer goes, no one cares.
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walter
17 years ago
Now Ryan, your comment is actually a display of cleverness. Did you know that the Virgin Islands actually have a national basketball team? Then why doesn’t Tim Duncan play for that team? Indeed because he wants to win. And it’s true that Virgin Islanders have the ‘right’ to call themselves US citizens for all it’s worth, because they don’t even have the right to participate in national elections.

Hakeem is and was a nigerian. But most importantly he quotes: All these boundaries – Africa, Asia, Malaysia, America – are set by men. But you don’t have to look at boundaries when you are looking at a man – at the character of a man. The question is: What do you stand for? Are you a follower, or are you a leader? Chris Kaman doesn’t follow, he leads by taking matters into his own hands.

As I read it Daniel was not referring to football in de US, but to soccer. So your eagerness to show your knowledge about football leagues is not relevant. Furthermore, these ‘guys’ wear helmets and body protection while they try to play rugby. Now, that shows of your manlihood.

Also, Chris Kaman viel gluck mit deiner spiel fur Deutschland!
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Ryan
17 years ago
Yes, walter. I actually did know that the U.S. Virgin Islands has its own team. It isn’t worth mentioning because they stink. Puerto Rico, Guam, and America Samoa also have their own teams. The only good one is Puerto Rico. Oh, and yes, PRO FOOTBALL IS RELEVANT. They talk about it non stop, all year when they only play 4 months. I could give a rats ass where Hakeem came from. He got his US Citizenship fair and square. He waited in line like everybody else. I don’t see people waiting in long lines to get into Germany. Wonder why? Oh, by the way your statement in German is incorrect loser.
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walter
16 years ago
Dear Ryan, congratulations with the progress of the redeem team in the olympic tournament! USA had a comfortable win over Germany, so you can put away your fears now. By the way, thanks for calling me names. I guess that’s a revelation of the content of your charachter. Good luck with yourself!
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Ryan
16 years ago
There was no fear. Germany cheated and paid for it just as China will soon get stripped of the gold medals they got in gymnastics when it is proven they fielded gymnasts under 16. Your welcome on the name calling by the way. My pleasure.
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