Former Central Michigan player Chris Kaman has received German citizenship and will team up with Dirk Nowitzki for Germany at the Olympic qualifying tournament later.

Kaman, whose great-grandparents were German, averaged 15.7 points and 12.7 rebounds last season with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The 7-foot Kaman will add size to a German team seeking to qualify for its first Olympics since the 1992 Barcelona Games.

The German team is practicing at home for a warmup tournament before it travels to Greece for the July 14-20 qualifying event in Athens.

Coach Dirk Bauermann says Kaman is a significant addition.

Outside of Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki, Kaman hasn't met any of his teammates, so his participation in two exhibition matches against Canada would help integrate him into the lineup before the stakes become much higher next week.

Nowitzki, the NBA's most valuable player in 2006-07, expects a seamless transition.

"I hope he finally gets here," Nowitzki said. "He isn't an egoist, but a guy that wants to win with the team. The chemistry will work fine."

Kaman has evolved into one of the NBA's most efficient centres in recent seasons. Last year, he stepped up for the Clippers in the absence of star power forward Elton Brand and averaged career-highs in points (15.7 per game), rebounds (12.7 per game), blocks (2.8 per game) and field goal percentage (48.3 per cent).

Germany will open the Olympic qualifying tournament against Cape Verde. Canada plays its first game of the tournament against Slovenia on the same day.