Through the Phog
Fansided

Ranking the 25 best Kansas basketball NBA careers of all-time

By Joshua Schulman

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 04: Paul Pierce and Drew Gooden attend the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship at Caesars Superdome on April 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 04: Paul Pierce and Drew Gooden attend the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship at Caesars Superdome on April 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Kirk Hinrich #10 of the Kansas Jayhawks (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Kirk Hinrich #10 of the Kansas Jayhawks (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

player. 462. . PG. Jayhawks . Kirk Hinrich. 9

Career statistics: 879 games, 11.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 4.8 APG, 41.1% FG

Chicago Bulls, 2003-2010
Washington Wizards, 2010-2011
Atlanta Hawks, 2011-2012
Chicago Bulls, 2012-2016
Atlanta Hawks, 2016

You’d probably be surprised to know just how good Hinrich was at the beginning of his career. Between 2003 and 2008, he averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game with a 41.4/37.7/81.6 slash line. He somehow took a team otherwise led by Eddy Curry and Ben Gordon to a 47-35 record in 2004-05.

Like many other point guards on this list, Hinrich recorded lots of steals and assists. Additionally, his offense improved over the years, and his shooting percentage gradually improved each season. He was fundamentally sound and the perfect true point.

The arrival of Derrick Rose in Chicago cut his prime short, but Kirk was capable of posting very good numbers when needed. He was an aggressive player who was widely regarded as one of the league’s best defenders. Hinrich earned a spot on the 2007 All-Defensive Second Team and the 2004 All-Rookie First Team (which happened to include LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Carmelo Anthony… clearly not the best company).

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