‘Old guy’ Kirk Hinrich’s love for game keeps him plugging away
Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich (12) looks to pass the ball against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The NBA is a young man’s world. Kirk Hinrich just happens to still live and operate in it.
As the former standout guard at Kansas begins Year No. 13 in the league, Hinrich’s minutes and production are almost certain to slip in the months ahead, as he plays a reserve role for what could be one of the NBA’s top teams, the Chicago Bulls.
Hinrich’s new head coach, former Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg, will need far more out of his star backcourt of Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler than he will out of Hinrich.
The 34-year-old veteran understands that, though, and looks forward to contributing to the Bulls’ success however and whenever he can. Hinrich shared his thoughts on this season, as well as what’s left of his playing career, with the Chicago Tribune’s Chris Kuc.
“It seems like yesterday I was a young
player and now all these players call
me ‘The Old Guy.’ I’m going to cherish
it and not take anything for granted.
I realize I’m at the tail end of my
career (but) I feel like I can play
longer.”
Hinrich’s legs should stay as fresh as legs in their mid-30s (with more than 800 regular-season games of mileage on them) can throughout the year if Butler and Rose stay healthy. Plus, backups Aaron Brooks and E’Twaun Moore appear to be ahead of Hinrich in the rotation for Chicago, considered the only legitimate threat to finish ahead of Cleveland in the Eastern Conference.
Even though Hinrich never had to take off his warmups in the Bulls’ season-opening victory over LeBron James’ Cavaliers and only played 5 minutes the next night at Brooklyn, Hoiberg appreciates the kind of contributions he can get out of his oldest guard.
“Kirk is just so rock-solid. He’s
always in the right spot. Defensively,
he’s very smart. He can get us into an
offense. He does a lot of things that
don’t show up in a box score. That’s a
tough role to have, but Kirk has
played it well his entire career.”
Even in a reduced role (Hinrich has never played fewer than the 24.4 minutes he averaged last season), Hinrich told the Tribune his love for the game keeps him wanting more.
“But when you get back to it you
realize how much you really love it
and want to do it as long as you can.
I love the competition of it. I love
the camaraderie with my teammates, the
sense of coming together as a team and
trying to accomplish something.”
Under contract just through the end of this season with Chicago, Hinrich indicated he doesn’t see retirement in his near future.
“I hope that I will know when it’s
time go to. Mentally and physically it
can be challenging at times, but I’m
up for it.”
And he hopes this season Chicago can accomplish something great.
2015-16 ‘Hawks in the NBA Season Previews
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