{{Short description|American basketball player (born 1991)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Alex Kirk | image = Alex Kirk (cropped).jpg | image_size = | caption = Kirk in 2018 | position = Center | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 11 | weight_lb = 252 | league = B.League | team = Ryukyu Golden Kings | number = 53 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|11|14}} | birth_place = Los Alamos, New Mexico, U.S. | nationality = American / Japanese | high_school = Los Alamos<br/>(Los Alamos, New Mexico) | college = New Mexico (2010–2014) | draft_year = 2014 | career_start = 2014 | years1 = {{nbay|2014|full=y}} | team1 = Cleveland Cavaliers | years2 = 2014 | team2 = →Canton Charge | years3 = 2015 | team3 = Canton Charge | years4 = 2015–2016 | team4 = Pistoia Basket 2000 | years5 = 2016 | team5 = Guangzhou Long-Lions | years6 = 2017 | team6 = Anadolu Efes | years7 = 2017–2023 | team7 = Alvark Tokyo | years8 = 2023–present | team8 = Ryukyu Golden Kings | highlights = * 2× B.League champion (2018, 2019) * FIBA Asia Champions Cup champion (2019) * FIBA Asia Champions Cup MVP (2019) * Second-team All-MWC (2013) * 2× MWC All-Defensive team (2013, 2014) | medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport | Men's basketball}} {{Medal|Country|{{flagu|Japan}}}} {{MedalCompetition|FIBA Asia Champions Cup}} {{MedalSilver | 2018 Thailand|Team}} {{MedalGold | 2019 Thailand|Team}} }}
'''Alex Ryan Kirk''' (born November 14, 1991) is an American-born Japanese professional basketball player for the Ryukyu Golden Kings of the Japanese B.League. He played college basketball for the University of New Mexico.
==College career== Kirk, a 7'0" center, played at Los Alamos High School in Los Alamos, New Mexico. He came to the University of New Mexico in 2010, averaging 4.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in the 2010–11 season. In the offseason, Kirk underwent back surgery for a herniated disc and subsequently redshirted the 2011–12 season.<ref>{{cite web | last = Smith| first = Mark| title = Lobos' Kirk Undergoes Back Surgery | work = Albuquerque Journal | date = August 10, 2011 | url = http://www.abqjournal.com/234879/sports/college/lobos-kirk-undergoes-back-surgery.html | access-date = April 21, 2014}}</ref> Kirk bounced back as a redshirt sophomore, averaging 12.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots per game. At the conclusion of the season, Kirk was named second team All-Mountain West Conference and a member of the league's All-Defensive team.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | title = Alford Coach of the Year, Williams Player of the Year in the MW | work = New Mexico Lobos | date = March 11, 2013 | url = http://www.golobos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=616934&SPID=87115&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=26000&ATCLID=209060863 | access-date = April 21, 2014 | archive-date = November 7, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141107133129/http://www.golobos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=616934&SPID=87115&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=26000&ATCLID=209060863 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
In the summer of 2013, Kirk was named to the United States' team for the 2013 Summer Universiade.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clark |first=Carol A. |title=Los Alamos Native Alex Kirk Tapped For 2013 USA Basketball Men's World University Games Team |work=Los Alamos Daily Post |date=June 29, 2013 |url=http://www.ladailypost.com/content/los-alamos-native-alex-kirk-tapped-2013-usa-basketball-men%E2%80%99s-world-university-games-team |access-date=June 30, 2017 }}</ref> He averaged 3.7 points and 4.6 rebounds as the team finished in ninth place.
In 2013–14, Kirk increased his numbers to 13.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. He was named third team All-MWC and repeated as a member of the All-Defensive team.<ref>{{cite web | title = Bairstow, Williams Named First Team All-Mountain West | work = New Mexico Lobos | date = March 10, 2014 | url = http://www.golobos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=616934&SPID=87115&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=26000&ATCLID=209430899 | access-date = April 21, 2014 | archive-date = October 22, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141022045936/http://www.golobos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=616934&SPID=87115&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=26000&ATCLID=209430899 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
In April 2014, Kirk declared for the NBA draft, foregoing his final year of college eligibility.<ref>{{cite web | last = Borzello| first = Jeff| title = New Mexico's Alex Kirk declaring for the NBA draft | work = CBSSports.com | date = April 11, 2014 | url = http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24522418/new-mexicos-alex-kirk-declaring-for-the-nba-draft | access-date = April 21, 2014}}</ref>
==Professional career==
===Cleveland Cavaliers=== After going undrafted in the 2014 NBA draft, Kirk joined the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2014 NBA Summer League. On August 11, 2014, he signed with the Cavaliers.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/releases/kirk-signing-140811 |title=Cavaliers Sign Alex Kirk |work=NBA.com |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. |date=August 11, 2014 |access-date=August 11, 2014}}</ref> During his rookie season with the Cavaliers, he had multiple assignments with the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League.<ref>{{cite news|title=2014–15 NBA Assignments |url=http://dleague.nba.com/news/assignments/ |access-date=November 28, 2014 |work=NBA.com |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628235947/http://dleague.nba.com/news/assignments/ |archive-date=June 28, 2015 }}</ref>
On January 5, 2015, Kirk was traded to the New York Knicks in a three-team trade that also involved the Oklahoma City Thunder.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.nba.com/knicks/knicks-part-three-team-trade|title=Knicks Part of Three-Team Trade|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|date=January 5, 2015|access-date=January 7, 2015}}</ref> Two days later, he was waived by the Knicks.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=17064 |title=Knicks waive Lou Amundson, Lance Thomas, Alex Kirk |access-date=2015-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108083904/http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=17064 |archive-date=2015-01-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Canton Charge=== On January 10, 2015, Kirk was acquired by the Canton Charge.<ref>[http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4914051 Charge Acquire Alex Kirk]</ref> In 46 games for the Charge in 2014–15, he averaged 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocks per game.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/dleague/players/k/kirkal01d.html Alex Kirk D-League Stats]</ref>
===Pistoia Basket 2000=== On August 15, 2015, Kirk signed with Pistoia Basket 2000 of the Italian Serie A for the 2015–16 season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Giorgio Tesi Pistoia announces Alex Kirk|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a/172785/giorgio-tesi-pistoia-announces-alex-kirk.html|access-date=August 15, 2015|work=Sportando.com|date=August 15, 2015}}</ref> Kirk averaged 16.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for Pistoia, which reached the Serie A playoffs before being eliminated in the first round by Scandone Avellino.<ref>{{cite web|title=Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoia Statistics|url=http://basketball.eurobasket.com/team/Italy/Giorgio_Tesi_Group_Pistoia/274?Page=3|access-date=July 29, 2016|work=eurobasket.com}}</ref>
===Guangzhou Long-Lions=== In July 2016, Kirk played for the San Antonio Spurs in the Utah session of the 2016 NBA Summer League.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/spurs/spurs-announce-2016-utah-summer-league-roster/|title=Spurs Announce 2016 Utah Summer League Roster|work=NBA.com|date=July 1, 2016|access-date=January 3, 2017}}</ref> He then played for the Toronto Raptors in the Las Vegas session.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/raptors/press-releases/summerleague-063016/|title=Raptors Announce NBA Summer League Roster|work=NBA.com|date=June 30, 2016|access-date=January 3, 2017}}</ref>
On July 29, 2016, Kirk signed to play for the Guangzhou Long-Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association for the 2016–17 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asia-basket.com/China/news/456167/Foshan-signs-Alex-Kirk,-ex-Giorgo-Tesi-PT|title=Foshan signs Alex Kirk, ex Giorgo Tesi PT|work=Asia-Basket.com|date=July 29, 2016|access-date=July 29, 2016}}</ref> On November 15, he was released by Guangzhou.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asia-basket.com/China/news/469397/Guangzhou-waived-Alex-Kirk|title=Guangzhou waived Alex Kirk|work=Asia-Basket.com|date=November 15, 2016|access-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref>
===Anadolu Efes=== On January 16, 2017, Kirk signed with Turkish club Anadolu Efes for the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Anadolu Efes brings in big man Kirk|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/7jn5k6w37euv9il7|access-date=January 16, 2017|work=Euroleague.net|date=January 16, 2017}}</ref>
===Alvark Tokyo=== On July 26, 2017, Kirk signed with Alvark Tokyo of the Japan B League.<ref>[https://www.alvark-tokyo.jp/news/30126.html Jawad Williams, Alex Kirk's basic agreement announcement], Alvark Tokyo Official Web Site, July 26, 2017</ref>
Alvark Tokyo won the 2017–18 B League championship, and Kirk led the team, averaging 16.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game for the season.<ref>Glen Rosales, [https://www.abqjournal.com/1182159/getting-his-game-in-gear-ex-exlobo-alex-kirk-celebrates-his-first-championship-as-a-professional-in-japan.html Ex-Lobo Kirk getting his game in gear in Japan], Albuquerque Journal, June 8, 2018</ref>
In the summer of 2017, Kirk played in The Basketball Tournament on ESPN for The Stickmen. He competed for the $2 million prize, and for The Stickmen, he averaged 6.5 points per game. Kirk helped take The Stickmen to the second round of the tournament, where they then lost to Team Challenge ALS 87–73.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetournament.com/bracket|title=Bracket {{!}} The Basketball Tournament|website=www.thetournament.com|language=en|access-date=2018-02-27}}</ref> In TBT 2018, he played for Eberlein Drive. Eberlein Drive made it to the championship game, where they lost to Overseas Elite.
==NBA career statistics== {{NBA player statistics legend}}
===Regular season=== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2014}} | style="text-align:left;"| Cleveland | 5 || 0 || 2.8 || .250 || .000 || 1.000 || .2 || .2 || .0 || .0 || .8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| Career | style="text-align:left;"| | 5 || 0 || 2.8 || .250 || .000 || 1.000 || .2 || .2 || .0 || .0 || .8 {{S-end}}
==International career statistics== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18 | style="text-align:left;"| A Tokyo | 60 || 60 || 26.1 || .606 || .275 || .773 || 8.9 || .9 || .5 || 1.2||16.2 |- {{s-end}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{basketball stats|nba=203945|bbr=k/kirkal01}} * [http://www.golobos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=209076500 New Mexico Lobos bio] * {{Twitter}} {{Alvark Tokyo 2019 FIBA Asia Champions Cup champions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirk, Alex}} Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:Alvark Tokyo players Category:American expatriate basketball people in China Category:American expatriate basketball people in Italy Category:American expatriate basketball people in Japan Category:American expatriate basketball people in Turkey Category:American men's basketball players Category:Anadolu Efes S.K. players Category:Basketball players from New Mexico Category:Canton Charge players Category:Centers (basketball) Category:Cleveland Cavaliers players Category:Guangzhou Loong Lions players Category:Japanese men's basketball players Category:Naturalised basketball players Category:Naturalized citizens of Japan Category:New Mexico Lobos men's basketball players Category:People from Los Alamos, New Mexico Category:Pistoia Basket 2000 players Category:Undrafted NBA players Category:Ryukyu Golden Kings players