Kirk Hinrich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kirk Hinrich

Hinrich with the Chicago Bulls in 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 (/ˈhaɪnrɪk/ HYNE-rik born January 2, 1981) is an American former professional basketball player. He was also a member of the USA National Team.

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

Early Life and High School Success

Kirk Hinrich was born in Sioux City, Iowa, to Jim and Nancy Hinrich. His father played basketball in college and later coached at Sioux City West High School. When Kirk was about seven, his father asked his old college coach, Ray Nacke, if Kirk could join a summer camp for older kids. Kirk was allowed to join and played very well against them.

Kirk also played football as a quarterback and baseball as a pitcher. But basketball was his favorite sport. His hero was Seattle SuperSonics star Gary Payton, who was known for his strong defense. With his dad as coach, Kirk's high school basketball team at Sioux City West High had an amazing record of 82 wins and 9 losses 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.

As a high school senior, Kirk was named the 1999 Co-Iowa Mr. Basketball. He shared this award with Nick Collison, who would later be his college teammate and roommate. Kirk first planned to play basketball at Iowa State. However, when their coach, Tim Floyd, left to coach the NBA's Chicago Bulls, Kirk changed his mind. He decided to go to the University of Kansas instead.

College Career at Kansas

At the University of Kansas Jayhawks, Kirk quickly became a key player. In his first year, he had 123 assists and won an award for being the most improved player. 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 Jayhawks record for three-point shooting.

In his junior and senior years, Kirk helped Kansas reach the Final Fours in 2002 and 2003. In his final season, along with power forward Nick Collison, he led the Jayhawks to the Final Four again. He was a strong shooter and defender, earning the Ted Owens Defensive Player Award for Kansas. Kansas lost the championship game to Syracuse, but Kirk was named the Midwest Region's Most Outstanding Player.

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 rafters, a special honor for top players like Wilt Chamberlain and Paul Pierce. Kirk said it was "an unbelievable honor" to have his jersey in such a historic building.

Professional Career

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

Chicago Bulls (2003–2010)

Kirk quickly became the Bulls' starting point guard. He was known for his strong skills, leadership, and intense defense. He was named to the NBA's 2004 All-Rookie first team. He was the only rookie that season to get a triple-double (reaching double digits in points, rebounds, and assists) in a game against the Golden State Warriors. Kirk also won the Bulls' Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award for the 2003–04 season.

In his second year, Kirk's shooting improved. He was known for his strong attitude on the court. He was involved in a small fight during a preseason game against the Washington Wizards, which led to fines and suspensions for several players. Later that season, the Bulls played the Wizards in the playoffs. The Bulls started the season with 0 wins and 9 losses, but after some changes, including Kirk moving to shooting guard, they made an amazing comeback. They became the first team ever to start 0–9 and still reach the playoffs.

In his third year, Kirk continued to improve his scoring and assists. He was the only Bulls player to average more than one steal per game that season. In October 2006, Kirk signed a new contract with the Bulls. The team's General Manager, John Paxson, said Kirk was "imperative to the foundation of our organization."

During the 2006–07 season, Kirk's shooting and scoring numbers were the best of his career. He was known for his tough defense. In a game against the Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade injured his wrist while Kirk was guarding him. Heat coach Pat Riley suggested Kirk did it on purpose, but Kirk said he was just playing hard defense. Kirk's teammate, Ben Gordon, also defended him. Kirk was later named to the NBA's All-Defensive Second Team for his great defense.

In the 2007–08 season, Kirk scored a career-high 38 points in a game against the Indiana Pacers. The Bulls missed the playoffs that year.

For the 2008–09 season, Kirk became a backup point guard because the Bulls drafted Derrick Rose. Kirk played well in the 2009 NBA Playoffs, where the Bulls had an exciting seven-game series against the Boston Celtics.

On February 20, 2010, Kirk became the Bulls' all-time leader in three-point field goals, passing Ben Gordon. This record was later surpassed by Zach LaVine on November 29, 2024. Kirk finished the 2009–10 season helping the Bulls reach the playoffs again.

Washington Wizards (2010–2011)

On July 8, 2010, Kirk was traded to the Washington Wizards. He started wearing glasses during games after learning he could lose sight in one eye if he was hit. He played for the Wizards for a short time, averaging 11.1 points per game.

Kirk Hinrich during his time with the Wizards in November 2010.

Atlanta Hawks (2011–2012)

On February 23, 2011, Kirk was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. He helped the Hawks reach the playoffs that season. However, he injured his hamstring in the first round and missed the rest of the playoffs. The Hawks ended up losing to his former team, the Chicago Bulls.

Kirk missed the first eighteen games of the 2011–12 NBA season due to shoulder surgery. His statistics that season were lower than his career averages.

Return to Chicago (2012–2016)

On July 23, 2012, Kirk signed a two-year contract to return to the Chicago Bulls. With Derrick Rose injured, Kirk started as the Bulls' point guard for the 2012–13 season. He dealt with several injuries but played a great game in the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Nets, scoring 18 points and having 14 assists in a triple-overtime win. However, he injured his calf in that game and missed the rest of the playoffs.

In the 2013–14 season, Kirk started as a backup but became the starter again when Derrick Rose got injured. He played in 73 games, his most since 2010, and improved his shooting as the season went on.

Kirk re-signed with the Bulls for two more years in July 2014. He played with the Bulls until February 2016.

Return to Atlanta (2016)

On February 18, 2016, Kirk was traded back to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal. His final NBA game was on May 4, 2016, in the playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

International Career

In July 2006, Kirk was chosen to be part of the U.S. national basketball team. This team would compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. He first said no because of the busy NBA season, but later changed his mind. Kirk felt lucky to get another chance to join the team.

He was one of 12 players chosen for the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan. Kirk helped the U.S. team win the bronze medal in that championship. He later decided not to play for Team USA in the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship or the 2008 Beijing Olympics, citing personal reasons like his wedding and his wife expecting a baby.

Personal Life

Kirk Hinrich married Jill Fisher on July 7, 2007. They have four children: two daughters, Kenzie (born 2008) and Kyla (born 2011), and twins, a boy named Kolton and a girl named Kinley (born 2014). During his NBA career, Kirk lived in Bannockburn, Illinois. 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

See also

In Spanish: Kirk Hinrich para niños