Kirk Hinrich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kirk Hinrich

Hinrich with the Chicago Bulls in January of 2008
Personal information
Born	(1981-01-02) January 2, 1981 (age 44) Sioux City, Iowa, U.S.
High school	Sioux City West (Sioux City, Iowa)
Listed height	6 ft 2.5 in (1.89 m)
Listed weight	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
College	Kansas (1999–2003)
NBA Draft	2003 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7th overall
Selected by the Chicago Bulls
Pro career	2003–2016
Career history
2003–2010	Chicago Bulls
2010–2011	Washington Wizards
2011–2012	Atlanta Hawks
2012–2016	Chicago Bulls
2016	Atlanta Hawks
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2007) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2004) 2× Third-team All-American – NABC, TSN (2002, 2003) Third-team All-American – AP (2003) No. 10 jersey retired by Kansas Jayhawks
Career NBA statistics
Points	9,594 (10.9 ppg)
Rebounds	2,576 (2.9 rpg)
Assists	4,245 (4.8 apg)
Medals Representing  United States FIBA World Championship Bronze 2006 Japan Team competition

Kirk James Hinrich (born January 2, 1981) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, and Atlanta Hawks during his career. He was also a member of the USA National Team.

Kirk grew up in Sioux City, Iowa, and started playing basketball very young. His father, Jim, coached him from third grade through high school.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Kirk Hinrich was born in Sioux City, Iowa. His father, Jim, played basketball in college and later coached at Sioux City West High School. When Kirk was about seven, his father enrolled him in a summer basketball camp. Kirk played well against older kids and quickly moved up to camps for teenagers.

Basketball was Kirk's favorite sport. He also played football as a quarterback and baseball as a pitcher. His role model was Seattle SuperSonics star Gary Payton, who was known for his strong defense. With his father as coach, Kirk's high school team at Sioux City West High had an amazing 82–9 record over four years. They won the Iowa state championship when Kirk was a senior. When he graduated, Kirk was West High's all-time leader in points, steals, and assists.

College Career at Kansas

As a high school senior, Kirk was named the 1999 Co-Iowa Mr. Basketball. He first planned to play at Iowa State. But when their coach, Tim Floyd, left for the NBA's Chicago Bulls, Kirk decided to go to the University of Kansas instead.

Becoming a Jayhawk Star

At the University of Kansas Jayhawks, Kirk quickly became a key player. In his first year, he had 123 assists. The next year, he was among the top players in the nation for assists per game. He also led his team in steals and set a Kansas record for three-point shooting.

In his final year at Kansas, Kirk and teammate Nick Collison led the Jayhawks to the Final Four. Kirk was a strong leader, leading his team in free throw and three-point shooting. He also averaged 5.0 assists per game. Kansas lost in the championship game, but Kirk was named the Midwest Region's Most Outstanding Player.

Jersey Retirement Honor

On March 1, 2009, Kansas honored Kirk by retiring his number 10 jersey. This means no other Kansas player will wear that number. His jersey was hung in the Allen Fieldhouse arena. This is a very special honor, given to only the best players, like Wilt Chamberlain and Paul Pierce. Kirk said it was an "unbelievable honor" to have his jersey in such a historic building.

Professional Basketball Career

Joining the Chicago Bulls (2003–2010)

Kirk Hinrich was chosen by the Chicago Bulls as the seventh pick in the 2003 NBA draft. This was a bit of a surprise, as many expected him to be picked later. The Bulls needed a point guard because their player, Jay Williams, was injured. Kirk quickly became the Bulls' starting point guard.

Rookie Season Success

In his first season (2003–04), Kirk played very well. He showed strong skills, leadership, and great defense. He was named to the NBA's 2004 All-Rookie first team. He was also the only rookie that season to get a triple-double (reaching double digits in points, rebounds, and assists) in one game. The Bulls also gave him their Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award for that season.

Building the Bulls Team

In his second year (2004–05), Kirk's shooting improved. He was known for his intense play. Early in the season, the Bulls struggled, so Kirk moved to shooting guard. This helped the team find its rhythm. The Bulls then made a great comeback, becoming the first team to start 0–9 and still make the playoffs. They lost in the first round, but it showed the team's potential.

Kirk continued to improve in his third year (2005–06). He averaged a career-high 15.9 points per game and led the team in assists. He also played strong defense, leading the team in steals. The Bulls signed him to a multi-year contract extension in 2006, showing how important he was to the team.

Defensive Recognition

In the 2006–07 season, Kirk continued to improve his shooting and scoring. He also earned a spot on the NBA's All-Defensive Second Team. This recognized his excellent defensive skills.

His numbers dropped a bit in the 2007–08 season, partly due to minor injuries. He scored a career-high 38 points in a game against the Indiana Pacers. In the 2008–09 season, Kirk moved to a backup role when Derrick Rose joined the team as the new point guard. Injuries also limited his playing time.

On February 20, 2010, Kirk became the Bulls' all-time leader in three-point field goals. He played a key role as the Bulls made the playoffs that year.

Moving to Washington and Atlanta (2010–2012)

In July 2010, Kirk was traded to the Washington Wizards. He played there for a short time, averaging 11.1 points per game. He started wearing glasses during games to protect his eyes.

In February 2011, Kirk was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. He helped the Hawks reach the playoffs. However, he injured his hamstring and missed the second round, where the Hawks lost to his former team, the Chicago Bulls. He also missed the start of the next season due to shoulder surgery.

Returning to Chicago (2012–2016)

On July 23, 2012, Kirk signed a contract to return to the Chicago Bulls. With Derrick Rose injured, Kirk became the Bulls' starting point guard again for the 2012–13 season. He battled some injuries but played a great game in the playoffs against the Nets, scoring 18 points and dishing out 14 assists in a triple-overtime win.

He continued to play for the Bulls until February 2016, when he was traded back to the Atlanta Hawks. His final NBA game was in May 2016, playing for the Hawks against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

International Basketball Career

In July 2006, Kirk was chosen to play for the U.S. national basketball team. This team would compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. He initially said no due to his busy NBA season, but later changed his mind.

Kirk was one of 12 players chosen to compete in the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan. The U.S. team played against the Greece national team in the semi-final and lost. However, they went on to win the bronze medal against the Argentinian team. Kirk later decided not to play for Team USA in the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship or the 2008 Beijing Olympics, citing personal reasons and his wife expecting a baby.

Personal Life

Kirk Hinrich married Jill Fisher on July 7, 2007. They have four children: a daughter named Kenzie (born 2008), another daughter named Kyla (born 2011), and twins, a boy Kolton and a girl Kinley (born 2014). After retiring from the NBA in 2017, Kirk and his family moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. There, Kirk started working at Sanford Power as a lead basketball specialist.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Images for kids

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  Kirk Hinrich playing for the Wizards in November 2010.