Only the season ends for Kaman

In the summer before the 2005-06 season, Chris Kaman worked out hard under the supervision of assistant coach Kim Hughes.

Kaman then established career highs, averaging 11.9 points and 9.6 rebounds while making 52.3% of his field-goal attempts. He also had a personal-best 29 double-doubles in 78 games, prompting the Clippers to reward him with a five-year, $52.5-million contract extension.

Before this season, however, the 7-foot center took off more time to spend with family and friends, he said recently. Kaman averaged 10.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and shot a career-low 45.1% from the field with only 14 double-doubles in 75 games.

Kaman’s drop-off in production is considered among the reasons the Clippers failed in their bid to earn consecutive playoff berths for the first time since the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons.

Determined to bounce back, Kaman said he has already committed to another intense off-season workout program with Hughes.

General Manager Elgin Baylor, Coach Mike Dunleavy and Hughes are Kaman’s biggest supporters in the organization, and Kaman will rebound, Dunleavy said.

“He knows what we think of him and he knows what we expect of him,” Dunleavy said. “His biggest problem this season was either concentration or confidence. He got position, got [good] shots and he didn’t finish them.

“He finished them a year ago, and he’s got to finish ‘em, so he’s got to have a big work ethic for us this summer. He has to work, big time, this off-season to shore up areas to make sure he has that confidence to go forward.”

Decision-making is an area where Kaman must improve, Dunleavy said.

Instead of shooting jumpers in the 15-foot range, Kaman often tried to get closer to the basket, leading to turnovers or squandered opportunities.

“We’re not trying to teach him to have skill, he already has it, we’re just trying to make him make better decisions,” Dunleavy said. “As he becomes a better decision-maker, he’ll be the guy who averages a double-double for us. He’ll be the guy who we’re willing to pay the money we’re paying, and he’s going to be worth it.”

jason.reid@latimes.com