Clippers.com asked Chris Kaman to give us an inside view of All Star weekend, as he kept a diary of his day preparing for the 2004 got milk? Rookie Challenge. Take a look at how Chris got ready for the game....and even managed to pocket some extra cash in the process!
9:10 AM I arrived at the St. Regis Hotel where I was to meet the rest of my teammates for the got milk? Rookie Challenge. It was great to see a lot of the guys, as the last time we were all together was in New York last June for the Draft.
9:25 AM Boarded the team bus. We had nine players as well as coach Doug Collins and Assistant Coach A.C. Green. NBA Entertainment had a camera crew following LeBron James, so they helped fill up the seats.
9:35 AM We had a police escort to the arena which saved us some time. I got a chance to talk with some of the other rookies about how their seasons were going.
10:10 AM We arrived at Jam Session at the Convention Center for shootaround. When we got there the Sophomore team was practicing, so I got a chance to talk to Marko a bit as well.
10:30 AM The Jam Session announcer introduced all of us one by one which was cool. There was a pretty good crowd there for shootaround.
10:50 AM Along with the rest of my team, I did an interview at center court and continued some shooting drills. Coach Collins put in an out-of-bounds play and gave us a few other offensive goals to think about.
11:10 AM Coach Collins had each of the guys put up $100 for a half court shooting contest. At first, I wasnt going to enter. However, I decided that if everyone else entered, I didn't want to be the only one on the sidelines. I turned out to be a good decision. I was the last to go and everyone had missed except for Chris Bosh. I ended up nailing my shot to force a playoff! Chris and I both traded four straight misses after that, but on my fifth attempt in the playoff I drained it to take home the bank. Not a bad morning.
11:30 AM We finished shootaround with a bunch of dunks. LeBron, Carmelo and Dwyane Wade got the crowd going with their moves. I threw it down a few times too.
11:50 AM We went back to the hotel where we signed a few balls as a team. I grabbed some lunch and relaxed.
2:45 PM The bus for the game departed the hotel.
3:30 PM Still on the bus, stuck in LA traffic.
3:45 PM We arrived at STAPLES. It was a bit different, as I realized it was the first time Ive taken a bus to STAPLES for a game.
4:00 PM We arrived in our locker room which was the Clippers locker room. The Sophomore team had the Lakers locker room. I had my same locker so I was right at home.
4:15 PM We all went to take a team photo which was a large production. We took some individual shots as well. Of course, LeBron and Yao took a few extra shots.
4:30 PM I chilled in the Clippers training room with Coach Collins and our trainer Jasen Powell. We talked about the old days in the NBA.
4:45 PM I talked to some reporters about my rookie year and our team.
5:00 PM I got a few shots up out on the court and got loose.
5:30 PM We had a little pregame meeting to go over our goals and matchups.
5:40 PM Took the floor for wamups.
6:00 PM We had team intros by a little kid which was interesting.
6:15 PM To-off. The game was fast paced from the opening minute, as LeBron and Carmelo hooked up on a few early alley-oops. The crowd was definitely into it, but the Sophomores ended up winning the game.
8:45 PM The day is over. The bus left for the hotel and I'm tired. However, hopefully, well all be back to represent our draft class next year as Sophomores.
