Chris Kramer
Christopher Scott Kramer (born April 4, 1988) is an American former professional basketball player best known for his tenacious defense as a point guard. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m), he played college basketball for the Purdue Boilermakers from 2006 to 2010, becoming the first player in Big Ten Conference history to earn four selections to the All-Big Ten Defensive Team and winning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors twice, in 2008 and 2010. Undrafted in the 2010 NBA draft, Kramer built a professional career lasting over a decade, competing in the NBA G League and multiple European leagues before retiring after the 2021-22 season. Kramer grew up in Huntington, Indiana, where he was a standout at Huntington North High School, earning all-state honors and leading his team to a state semifinal appearance in 2006. At Purdue, he quickly established himself as a lockdown defender, leading the Big Ten in steals during his sophomore and junior seasons with 75 each, while contributing to the Boilermakers' back-to-back Big Ten regular-season titles in 2009 and 2010, as well as an Elite Eight appearance in the 2010 NCAA Tournament. Over his college career, he averaged 6.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, with his defensive impact earning him third-team All-Big Ten recognition from media in 2008 and honorable mention honors in 2009 and 2010. Following college, Kramer signed a preseason contract with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2010 but was waived before the regular season. He then played in the NBA Development League (now G League) for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in 2010-11. His professional journey extended overseas, where he showcased his skills in top leagues: he won the King Mindaugas Cup with Lietuvos rytas in Lithuania in 2019, earned LKL Defensive Player of the Year in 2018, and played for prominent clubs including Khimki Moscow in Russia, Hapoel Jerusalem in Israel, and Herbalife Gran Canaria in Spain's Liga ACB. After retiring from playing basketball after the 2021-22 season, Kramer transitioned into business and community roles. He now serves as Vice President of Development at Eleos Hospice Care and hosts the annual CK3 Basketball Camp in Indiana to mentor young players, drawing on his experiences as a Purdue alumnus and defensive specialist.Early life and high school
Early life
Christopher Scott Kramer was born on April 4, 1988, in Huntington, Indiana.[1]High school career
Chris Kramer attended Huntington North High School in Huntington, Indiana, from 2002 to 2006, where he emerged as a standout multi-sport athlete, particularly in basketball and football. He earned all-state honors in both sports.[2] As a quarterback on the football team, he accumulated 1,336 passing yards and 997 rushing yards during his senior year, contributing to a 5-5 record for the Vikings.[3] His versatility and competitive drive across sports helped build his reputation as a tenacious competitor early on. In basketball, Kramer excelled as a point guard, known for his defensive prowess and playmaking ability. During his senior year in the 2005–2006 season, he averaged 19.1 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.0 steals per game, leading Huntington North to an impressive 18-3 record.[3] His high steal average underscored his reputation as a defensive standout, often disrupting opponents' offenses with relentless pressure and quick hands, which became a hallmark of his playing style. He was selected to the 2006 IBCA All-State team.[4] Kramer's performance earned him significant recognition, including selection to the 2006 Indiana All-Star Team alongside future NBA talents like Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr.[3] This honor highlighted his status among the state's top high school players. His defensive reputation and overall contributions drew attention from college recruiters, ultimately leading to his commitment to Purdue University.[3]College career
2006–2007 season
Chris Kramer enrolled at Purdue University in 2006, joining the Boilermakers men's basketball team under head coach Matt Painter as a freshman guard.[5] During the 2006–2007 season, he quickly established himself as a defensive specialist, contributing significantly to the team's perimeter defense in Big Ten Conference play.[6] Kramer appeared in all 30 games for Purdue, starting 24 of them while averaging 27.6 minutes per contest.[5] His first-year statistics included 7.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and a team-leading 2.1 steals per game, with a total of 64 steals that set a Purdue freshman record, surpassing the previous mark by 13.[5][7] These efforts helped anchor the Boilermakers' defense, as they advanced to the NCAA Tournament, where Kramer recorded three steals in a first-round victory over Arizona (78-65) and four steals in a second-round loss to Florida (74-67).[8] In Big Ten competition, Kramer averaged approximately 5.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.1 steals across 16 games, showcasing his adjustment to conference-level intensity as a reserve-turned-starter who emphasized hustle and disruption.[5] Notable moments included a 19-point outing against Iowa on February 21, 2007 (66-59 win), where he shot 3-for-4 from three-point range, and 12 points on efficient 7-of-8 free-throw shooting in a rivalry game versus Indiana on January 10, 2007 (77-71 win).[8] These performances highlighted his early defensive presence and growing impact within the program.2007–2008 season
In his sophomore season with the Purdue Boilermakers during 2007–2008, Chris Kramer saw expanded playing time, starting 28 of the 33 games he appeared in while averaging 28.8 minutes per contest. He contributed offensively with averages of 6.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game, helping facilitate Purdue's fast breaks and perimeter play. Defensively, Kramer emerged as a key perimeter stopper, averaging 2.3 steals per game to lead the Big Ten, which ranked him among the conference leaders and bolstered Purdue's league-best 151 total steals for the season.[5][9] Kramer's defensive growth was pivotal to Purdue's strong performance, as the Boilermakers finished second in the Big Ten with a 15–3 conference record and 25–9 overall mark, advancing to the NCAA Tournament's second round. His relentless on-ball pressure and anticipation led to crucial turnovers in high-stakes games, such as recording three steals in a February 2008 victory over then-No. 8 Michigan State, where Purdue held the Spartans to 57 points. These efforts helped limit opponents to a Big Ten-leading 62.4 points allowed per game (42nd nationally), establishing Kramer as a cornerstone of the team's defensive identity.[9][10] For his standout sophomore campaign, Kramer earned selection to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team for the second consecutive year and was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year, recognizing his role in elevating Purdue's perimeter defense. This honor marked the beginning of his accumulation of multiple defensive accolades over his college career.[11][12]2008–2009 season
During his junior season in 2008–2009, Chris Kramer emerged as a key defensive anchor for the Purdue Boilermakers, starting 28 of 35 games while averaging 27.2 minutes per contest. He contributed 5.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.1 steals per game to lead the Big Ten in steals, with his 75 total steals tying for third in Purdue's single-season history.[5][13] Kramer's defensive prowess earned him selection to the All-Big Ten Defensive Team for the third straight year, highlighting his role in limiting opponents' perimeter scoring. He also received Academic All-Big Ten honors, reflecting his balance of on-court leadership and studies. This season continued his accumulation of steals, building toward his career total as Purdue's all-time leader. In the NCAA Tournament, Purdue, seeded fourth in the West Region, advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1994, finishing 27–10 overall and winning the Big Ten regular-season title at 15–3. Kramer provided steady contributions across the Boilermakers' three games, recording 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals against Washington in the second round (76–74 victory) and notching 2 steals in each contest, including the 63–72 Elite Eight loss to top-seeded UConn. His perimeter defense helped Purdue hold opponents to efficient but low-volume shooting in the tournament's early rounds.[14][15]2009–2010 season
In his senior season with the Purdue Boilermakers during 2009–2010, Chris Kramer served as team captain and started 34 of the team's 35 games, providing steady leadership on both ends of the court. He averaged 6.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, contributing to Purdue's Elite Eight appearance in the 2010 NCAA Tournament. His defensive prowess was recognized with his second Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award, as selected by the conference coaches.[16][17] Kramer's efficiency stood out, as he scored a career-high 228 total points while shooting 56.5% from the field. His role emphasized defensive intensity and floor spacing, capping a four-year legacy as one of the conference's top perimeter defenders. Additionally, he earned First Team Senior All-American honors from Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, highlighting his impact as a senior leader.[5][3] Kramer graduated from Purdue in 2010 with a degree in organizational leadership and supervision, maintaining a 3.12 cumulative GPA while balancing academics and athletics.[18][3]College achievements and statistics
During his four seasons at Purdue University, Chris Kramer established himself as one of the premier defensive guards in college basketball, earning recognition for his relentless on-ball pressure and ability to disrupt opponents' offenses. He was selected to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team four consecutive times from 2007 to 2010, becoming the first player in conference history to achieve this feat. Additionally, Kramer was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year twice, in 2008 and 2010. Kramer's defensive impact is best illustrated by his career statistics, where he set the Purdue program record for total steals with 274, averaging 2.1 per game. He appeared in 133 games, starting 114 of them—ranking second in program history for career starts—and contributed to 96 Purdue victories, placing third all-time in the school's record books for games played in wins. These accomplishments underscored his role in elevating the Boilermakers' defense, helping the team compile a 97-36 overall record during his tenure.[5] The following table summarizes Kramer's season-by-season defensive statistics at Purdue, highlighting his consistency in steals, games played, and starts:| Season | Games Played | Games Started | Steals | Steals per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | 30 | 24 | 64 | 2.1 |
| 2007–08 | 33 | 28 | 75 | 2.3 |
| 2008–09 | 35 | 28 | 75 | 2.1 |
| 2009–10 | 35 | 34 | 60 | 1.7 |
| Career | 133 | 114 | 274 | 2.1 |