{{Short description|American-Slovak basketball player (born 1989)}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Kyle Kuric | image = 2022-03-22 ALBA Berlin gegen FC Barcelona Bàsquet (EuroLeague 2021-22) by Sandro Halank–038.jpg | caption = Kuric with FC Barcelona in 2022 | position = Shooting guard | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4 | weight_lb = 195 | league = Liga ACB | team = MoraBanc Andorra | number = 24 | nationality = American / Slovak | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|08|25}} | birth_place = Evansville, Indiana, U.S. | high_school = Memorial (Evansville, Indiana) | college = Louisville (2008–2012) | draft_year = 2012 | career_start = 2012 | career_end = | years1 = 2012–2014 | team1 = CB Estudiantes | years2 = 2014–2017 | team2 = Herbalife Gran Canaria | years3 = 2017–2018 | team3 = Zenit Saint Petersburg | years4 = 2018–2023 | team4 = FC Barcelona | years5 = 2023–2024 | team5 = Zenit Saint Petersburg | years6 = 2024–present | team6 = Andorra | highlights = * 2× EuroLeague 50–40–90 club (2021, 2022) * 3× All-EuroCup Second Team (2015, 2017, 2018) * 2x Liga ACB champion (2021, 20213) * 3× Spanish Cup winner (2020, 2021, 2022) * Spanish Supercup winner (2016) * Spanish Supercup MVP (2016) * VTB United League Supercup winner (2023) * VTB United League Supercup MVP (2023) * All-VTB United League Second Team (2018) }} '''Kyle Matthew Kuric''' (born August 25, 1989)<ref name="bio">Kyle Kuric player bio</ref> is an American-Slovak professional basketball player for MoraBanc Andorra of the Liga ACB. Kuric grew up in Evansville, Indiana, and graduated from Memorial High School in 2008. Kuric is most noted for leading the Louisville Cardinals to a win in the last game Louisville played at Freedom Hall,<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=4971890 Unlikely hero closes out Freedom Hall.]</ref> and being named winner of the "2011 Papa John's Dunk of the Year".<ref>[http://www.uoflsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/040311aaa.html Kyle Kuric's Dunk Named 2011 Papa John's Dunk of the Year.] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130205050614/http://www.uoflsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/040311aaa.html |date=2013-02-05 }}</ref>
==Early life and education== Kuric is of Slovak descent, and also has a Slovak passport.<ref>{{Cite web |title=nombre completo: Kyle Matthew Kuric nacionalidad {{!}} licencia: SVQ {{!}} EUR {{in lang{{!}}es}}. |url=http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=241 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205023840/http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=241 |archive-date=2014-12-05 |access-date=2016-09-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kyle Kuric, un cañonero para el Herbalife Gran Canaria at ACB.com . |url=http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=105494 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718114932/http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=105494 |archive-date=2018-07-18 |access-date=2014-09-15 |language=es}}</ref>
Kuric attended Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville, Indiana, and as a senior averaged 20.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocked shots.<ref name="bio" /> That year, he led a senior-heavy team to the school's first sectional championship in 12 years.<ref>[http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/mar/02/memorials-12-year-sectional-drought-is-over/ Courier Press Memorial's 12-year sectional drought is over.]</ref> Memorial was ranked number 1 in class 3A in Indiana for several weeks during the season.<ref name="bio" /> Kuric was named the 2008 Evansville Courier & Press All-Metro Player of the Year,<ref>[http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/mar/30/memorials-kuric-lived-up-to-all-the-hype/ Courier Press Memorial's Kuric lived up to all the hype.]</ref> a second team AP all-state honoree and was ranked No. 147 in the ESPN 150 listing of the top players in the class of 2008. He was selected to the Indiana All-Star team in 2008.<ref name="bio"/>
Following high school he signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Louisville Cardinals.
==College career== Kuric saw little playing time his freshman year mainly playing behind Terrence Williams, who was a lottery pick in the 2009 NBA draft. Kuric's most notable game came as a sophomore during Louisville's final game held in Freedom Hall against the then No. 1 ranked Syracuse Orange. He scored 22 points, all in the second half, to lead Louisville to the upset win.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121107211703/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courier_journal/access/1978861401.html?FMT=ABS&date=Mar+07,+2010 Courier Journal Kuric writes final legend of the Hall.]</ref> Kuric added three rebounds, two assists, a steal, and four dunks while connecting on 9-of-11 field goals (4-of-6 three-pointers).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170304203247/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=300650097 Louisville rocks No. 1 Syracuse in Freedom Hall finale Kuric scores 22 after half.]</ref> Pat Forde of ESPN called him the "unlikely hero" of that game.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=4971890 ESPN Forde Unlikely hero closes out Freedom Hall.]</ref>
Kuric ended his junior season as the 2nd leading scorer for a Louisville team that overachieved relative to expectations . Preseason predictions had them 8th in the Big East Conference and they did not receive a single vote in the preseason top 25 poll nationally.<ref name="info">2010–11 Basketball Information</ref> The Cardinals ended the season with a record of 25–10 and ranked number 11. They placed third in the Big East regular season and reached the final game of the Big East tournament losing to UConn Huskies by 3 points. The Cardinals were seeded 4th in the NCAA tournament, but were upset in the first round by 13th seed Morehead State University. Kuric came on strong in Big East Conference play by averaging a team-high 15.1 points and 5.8 rebounds over the last 13 games, hitting 34-of-74 three-pointers (.459) and 53.8 percent from the field. He was third in the Big East in Three-point field goal percentage (.449, 70-of-156) and was seventh in field goal percentage(.514).<ref name="big east">{{Cite web |url=http://www.bigeast.org/fls/19400/pdfs/men_basketball/weekly-release.pdf |title=Big East Season Summary. |access-date=2011-08-31 |archive-date=2012-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310090057/http://bigeast.org/fls/19400/pdfs/men_basketball/weekly-release.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Kuric scored the winning layup on a pass from Preston Knowles with four seconds left to cap a 24–5 run against Marquette Golden Eagles in the last 5:44 of the game.<ref name="info"/> This game has been dubbed the "Miracle on Main Street".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courier_journal/access/2242093091.html?FMT=ABS&date=Jan+16%2C+2011 |title=Courier Journal MIRACLE ON MAIN THE CARDINALS' COMEBACK. |access-date=2017-07-06 |archive-date=2012-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107211712/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courier_journal/access/2242093091.html?FMT=ABS&date=Jan+16,+2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Kuric was selected to the Big East Honor Roll on February 14 after averaging 25.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and hitting 62.1 percent from the field—including 9-of-14 three-point goals (.643) – as Louisville split games against Notre Dame and Syracuse.<ref name="big east"/>
Kyle Kuric's monster slam dunk in the waning seconds of the first half at Notre Dame was voted as the "2011 Papa John's Dunk of the Year". Kuric's dunk received 45 percent of the votes in a Facebook fan poll to earn the national title.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.intersportnet.com/2011/04/03/lousiville%E2%80%99s-kyle-kuric-named-the-2011-papa-john%E2%80%99s-dunk-of-the-year |title=Louisville's Kyle Kuric Named the 2011 Papa John's Dunk of the Year. |access-date=2011-08-31 |archive-date=2012-09-03 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120903171609/http://www.intersportnet.com/2011/04/03/lousiville%E2%80%99s-kyle-kuric-named-the-2011-papa-john%E2%80%99s-dunk-of-the-year |url-status=dead }}</ref> Kuric is also regarded as a fan favorite amongst die-hard Louisville basketball fans. On ranker.com, a site designed to encourage fan engagement, he's listed at #28 on all-time favorite Louisville players.
Kuric was selected a tri-captain of the 2011–12 University of Louisville Men's basketball team along with Peyton Siva and Chris Smith.<ref name="UofL basketball web site">UofL basketball web site</ref> Kuric was the leading scorer during his senior season. The Cardinals won the Big East tournament and Kuric was named to the Big East All-tournament team. Louisville went to the Final Four after a comeback win over Florida in the Elite Eight game but lost to Kentucky in a highly anticipated national semifinal in New Orleans.
Kuric was crowned Louisville's homecoming king on October 9, 2010, at halftime of the Cards' homecoming football game vs. Memphis Tigers.<ref name="info"/> He is frequently called "King Kyle" because of this selection.
Kuric has some significant off-court accomplishments as well. He has been selected for the Dean's List and AD honor roll at U of L several times. He also served as the student representative on the U of L Athletic Association Board of Directors, the governing body for the Cardinals' athletic department. He was honored as U of L's Most Outstanding Sophomore in April 2010.<ref name="info"/> During his senior year at Louisville, Kuric founded a charity to assist children in the Kentuckiana area. Kyle's Korner for Kids in cooperation with the University of Louisville athletic department collected halloween costumes for the Home for the Innocents and toys for children hospitalized on Christmas at Kosairs Children's Hospital.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://kyleskornerforkids.com/ |title=Kyle's Korner for Kids. |access-date=2012-11-28 |archive-date=2021-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129162228/https://kyleskornerforkids.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===College honors=== * 4x Big East Men's Basketball Tournament (2009–2012) * Big East All Tournament Team 2012 * 4x NCAA Tournament Appearance (2009–2012) * Final Four 2012 *2011 Dunk of the Year Winner *2012 Capitol One Academic All District 2 Team
==Professional career== After playing at Louisville, in the NCAA Division I, Kuric started his pro career in 2012, with the Spanish club Asefa Estudiantes,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=86802 |title=Kyle Kuric sign for Estudiantes at Spanish league website . |access-date=2012-08-11 |language=es |archive-date=2017-12-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223102120/http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=86802 |url-status=dead }}</ref> where he stayed for two seasons, until signing with Herbalife Gran Canaria on 31 July 2014.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140808055549/http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/news/i/139936/3735 Herbalife Gran Canaria inks Kuric.]; EuroCup Basketball, 31 July 2014.</ref>
Kuric played for the Phoenix Suns' summer team in the 2016 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He returned to Herbalife Gran Canaria for the 2016–17 season. Herbalife Gran Canaria won the season's curtain raiser competition, the 2016 Spanish Supercup in September, and Kuric was named the MVP of the tournament.
On July 5, 2017, Kuric signed a two-year deal with Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg.<ref>{{cite news|title=Zenit inks All-EuroCup scorer Kuric to two-year deal|url=http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/news/i/7xdpacdlfouchdm9|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707192620/http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/news/i/7xdpacdlfouchdm9|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 7, 2017|access-date=July 5, 2017|work=Eurocupbasketball.com|date=July 5, 2017}}</ref> On July 18, 2018, Kuric signed a two-year deal with FC Barcelona Lassa of the Liga ACB and the EuroLeague after reached an agreement with Zenit Saint Petersburg.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kyle Kuric, a great scorer for Barça Lassa {{!}} FC Barcelona |url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/sections/basketball/first-team/news/2018-2019/kyle-kuric-a-great-scorer-for-barca-lassa |access-date=18 July 2018 |work=FC Barcelona |date=18 July 2018}}</ref> He averaged 9.4 points per game in EuroLeague in 2019–20. On July 7, 2020, Kuric officially renewed his contract with the Spanish club through 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=Barcelona signs Kyle Kuric to contract extension |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/barcelona-signs-kyle-kuric-to-contract-extension/ |website=Sportando |access-date=July 7, 2020 |date=July 7, 2020 |last1=Carchia |first1=Emiliano }}</ref>
On June 29, 2023, Kuric returned to Zenit Saint Petersburg. He returned to the Liga ACB in 2024, signing with MoraBanc Andorra.
==Career statistics== {{Euroleague player statistics legend}}
===EuroLeague===
{| class="wikitable" |- | style="background:#CFECEC; width:1em"|* | Led the league |}
{{Euroleague player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19 | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="5"| Barcelona | 34 || '''14''' || 19.7 || .442 || .397 || .865 || '''2.1''' || .8 || '''.8''' || '''.1''' || 8.4 || 7.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20 | 27 || 3 || 19.4 || .471 || .443 || .892 || '''2.1''' || '''.9''' || .7 || '''.1''' || '''9.4''' || '''8.9''' |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21 | '''39''' || 1 || 18.8 || '''.558''' || style="background:#CFECEC;"|'''.562'''* || style="background:#CFECEC;"|'''.961'''* || 1.6 || .5 || .4 || '''.1''' || 8.7 || 8.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22 | 37 || 12 || '''20.1''' || .455 || .400 || .912 || 2.0 || .8 || .5 || .0 || 7.9 || 7.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23 | 22 || 5 || 13.6 || .437 || .436 || .909 || 1.2 || .5 || .7 || .0 || 5.0 || 4.7 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan=2|Career | 159 || 35 || 18.7 || .476 || .448 || .912 || 1.8 || .7 || .6 || .1 || 8.0 || 7.5 {{S-end}}
===Domestic Leagues=== {{Basketball player statistics start}} |- | align="left" | 2012–13 | align="left" | CB Estudiantes | Liga ACB | 33 || 21.8 || .500 || .394 || .879 || 2.0 || .9 || .7 || .1 || 11.2 |- | align="left" | 2013–14 | align="left" | CB Estudiantes | Liga ACB | 34 || '''28.2''' || .437 || .401 || .875 || 3.3 || 1.0 || 1.1 || '''.3''' || 13.5 |- | align="left" | 2014–15 | align="left" | Herbalife Gran Canaria | Liga ACB | 34 || 27.7 || .456 || .388 || .936 || 2.1 || 1.1 || 1.0 || .2 || 12.1 |- | align="left" | 2014–15 | align="left" | Herbalife Gran Canaria | EuroCup | 24 || 26.8 || .506 || .462 || .853 || 2.5 || '''1.5''' || .9 || '''.3''' || 13.8 |- | align="left" | 2015–16 | align="left" | Herbalife Gran Canaria | Liga ACB | 10 || 16.0 || .482 || .375 || '''1.000''' || 2.1 || .3 || 1.0 || .1 || 7.9 |- | align="left" | 2015–16 | align="left" | Herbalife Gran Canaria | EuroCup | 3 || 24.0 || .536 || .546 || .500 || 2.0 || 1.3 || .0 || '''.3''' || 14.7 |- | align="left" | 2016–17 | align="left" | Herbalife Gran Canaria | Liga ACB | 32 || 22.2 || .467 || .411 || .833 || 2.6 || .9 || .6 || .2 || 12.5 |- | align="left" | 2016–17 | align="left" | Herbalife Gran Canaria | EuroCup | 16 || 23.4 || .507 || .500 || .878 || 3.0 || .8 || .9 || .1 || 15.1 |- | align="left" | 2017–18 | align="left" | Zenit Saint Petersburg | VTB United League | 29 || 25.4 || .472 || .386 || .822 || 3.4 || '''1.5''' || .9 || .2 || '''16.4''' |- | align="left" | 2017–18 | align="left" | Zenit Saint Petersburg | EuroCup | 19 || 24.7 || .452 || .433 || .877 || '''3.5''' || 1.4 || .5 || .2 || 15.3 |- | align="left" | 2018–19 | align="left" | FC Barcelona Bàsquet | Liga ACB | 30 || 21.0 || .455 || .414 || .889 || 2.1 || .8 || .8 || .1 || 9.4 |- | align="left" | 2019–20 | align="left" | FC Barcelona Bàsquet | Liga ACB | 23 || 20.7 || .412 || .353 || .902 || 2.2 || 1.2 || .9 || .1 || 8.4 |- | align="left" | 2020–21 | align="left" | FC Barcelona Bàsquet | Liga ACB | '''40''' || 18.6 || .524 || .458 || .906 || 1.7 || .6 || .5 || .1 || 9.0 |- |-class=sortbottom | align="center" colspan=2 | Career | All Leagues | 427 || 22.4 || .475 || .425 || .877 || 2.4 || .9 || .7 || .2 || 11.3 {{s-end}}
==Personal life== Kuric was born in Pennsylvania, but grew up in Evansville, Indiana. He has one sister, Katie Kuric (b, 1988 July 10)<ref>{{cite web |title=Katie Kuric – Women's Soccer |url=https://gocards.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/katie-kuric/3870 |access-date=2026-03-18 |website=University of Louisville Athletics |publisher=University of Louisville |language=en}}</ref>, who was a goalkeeper on the women's soccer team at the University of Louisville.<ref name="UofL basketball web site"/> Kuric's father is a neurosurgeon, and his mother is a nurse practitioner. Kuric married Taraneh Momeni Kuric on July 5, 2013. He is the father of twin sons and a daughter.
On 5 November 2015, Kuric had surgery to remove brain tumors that were diagnosed two days before.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/14047786/kyle-kuric-former-louisville-cardinals-top-scorer-diagnosed-brain-tumor|publisher=ESPN|date=3 November 2015|access-date=5 November 2015|title=Ex-L'ville star Kuric diagnosed with brain tumor.}}</ref> He eventually underwent two additional surgeries to control brain swelling and to place a skull implant.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.wdrb.com/story/30486972/crawford-kuric-off-ventilator-as-condition-improves-following-brain-surgery | title = Kuric off ventilator as condition improves following brain surgery | first = Eric | last = Crawford | publisher = WDRB | location = Louisville, KY | date = November 10, 2015 | access-date = November 10, 2015 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151112065611/http://www.wdrb.com/story/30486972/crawford-kuric-off-ventilator-as-condition-improves-following-brain-surgery | archive-date = November 12, 2015 }}</ref> He made a much anticipated return to the court five months after surgery, making 3 of 4 three point shots in his first game back at Gran Canaria.
On 7 September 2020, Kuric underwent surgical procedure to replace the cranial plate implanted in 2015. The plate had cracked as a result of a collision in practice. He returned to practice with FC Barcelona in October 2020.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.acb.com/jugador/temporada-a-temporada/id/20210232 Kyle Kuric] at acb.com {{in lang|es}} *[https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/?seasoncode=U2016&pcode=005789 Kyle Kuric] @ eurocupbasketball.com *[https://web.archive.org/web/20141205023840/http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=241 Kyle Kuric] @acb.com {{in lang|es}} *[http://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Kyle-Kuric/Spain/Herbalife_Gran_Canaria/162327 Kyle Kuric] @ eurobasket.com *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110815065548/http://www.uoflsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/kuric_kyle00.html Louisville Cardinals bio] *[http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/lou/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/weekly-release.pdf 2010–11 Basketball Information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110803/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/lou/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/weekly-release.pdf |date=2016-03-04 }} *[http://kyleskornerforkids.com Kyle's Korner for Kids] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129162228/https://kyleskornerforkids.com/ |date=2021-11-29 }}
{{BC Andorra current roster}} {{navboxes|list1= {{Supercopa de España de Baloncesto MVP Award}} {{United League Supercup MVP Award}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuric, Kyle}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:American expatriate basketball people in Russia Category:American expatriate basketball people in Spain Category:American men's basketball players Category:American people of Slovak descent Category:Basketball players from Evansville, Indiana Category:BC Andorra players Category:BC Zenit Saint Petersburg players Category:CB Estudiantes players Category:CB Gran Canaria players Category:FC Barcelona Bàsquet players Category:Liga ACB players Category:Louisville Cardinals men's basketball players Category:Shooting guards Category:Slovak expatriate basketball people in Russia Category:Slovak expatriate basketball people in Spain Category:Slovak men's basketball players Category:Small forwards Category:Sportspeople of Slovak descent