Name: Kirk Hinrich (pronounced HINE-rick)
Position: PG/SG
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 190
Birth Date: January 2, 1981 (28 years old)
Birth Place: Sioux City, IA
Number: 12
Nicknames: Captain Kirk, The Hinrich Maneuver
College: Kansas
Drafted: 2003, 1st Round, 7th overall by Chicago
Experience: 6 seasons
Previous teams: None
Contract: $9.5 million in 2009-10
Expect: Pull-up jumpers, solid defense
Don’t expect: A breakout year
On offense:
Hinrich is a jump shooter. Period. Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but not by much. According to 82games.com, a whopping 89 percent of his field goal attempts last season were jumpers. That’s an astonishing number, and it isn’t an aberration. In 2007-08, 84 percent of his field goal attempts were jumpers. In 2006-07, that number was 81 percent. In 2005-06, it was 77 percent. Can you spot the trend? The one bright spot is that his Effective Field Goal Percentage on jump shots was .517, and overall he ranked fourth on the Bulls (behind Joakim Noah, John Salmons and Ben Gordon) in total eFG% at .519 (a career-high for him). Furthermore, Hinrich hit 40.8 percent of his threes, which is the second-best mark of his career.
As John Hollinger pointed out: “Hinrich likes to shoot jumpers going to his right off the screen-and-roll, especially from the left side of the floor, and is also a decent spot-up shooter on 3s. He has good quickness going to his right but tends to pull up rather than go all the way to the basket.” That last part explains why Hinrich attempted only 1.3 free throws per game last season…which represents a career-low. When he does get to the line, Hinrich has (over the course of his career) knocked down about 80 percent of his foul shots, although last season’s 79.1 percent mark was also a career-low.
Hinrich does a reasonably good job distributing the ball in the halfcourt offense, usually off drive-and-kick-outs. Despite losing his starting job to Derrick Rose and playing a career-low 26.3 minutes per game during the 2008-09 campaign, he ranked second on the team with 3.9 assists per game compared to only 1.7 turnovers (which comes out to 2.3 assists per turnover). In fact, according to 82games.com, Hinrich had 197 assists versus only 55 “bad pass” turnovers (which comes out to 3.6 assists for every pass he threw away). However, Hinrich isn’t particularly adept at creating offense — for himself or his teammates — on the fly.
On defense:
Hinrich is a determined and aggressive defender who can cover point guards, shooting guards, and (on occasion) small forwards (although with John Salmons and a healthy Luol Deng, that shouldn’t be necessary this season). He’s not exactly what you’d call a stopper, but Hinrich consistently gives his best on defense and rarely gets embarrassed, even by superstuds like Dwyane Wade. His lack of height and muscle can hurt him against bigger guards, but he usually manages to get under their skin with his quick hands and persistence.
Hinrich also does a pretty good job hawking the ball. Last season, he actually had a career-year in steals, setting a high mark for Steals Per 36 Minutes (1.8). And, despite playing fewer minutes than anyone in the regular rotation other than Joakim Noah, he led the Bulls in Steals Per game with 1.3.
Miscellaneous:
Hinrich’s contract has become something of a sore spot with the team’s management (not to mention some fans). Because nine-plus million is a lot to pay for a backup point guard, Hinrich is often part of any big trade rumors involving the Bulls. It’s an open secret that the accountants would like to have his contract off the books, so the general feeling is that Hinrich could be moved at virtually any time if the right deal presented itself.
Summary:
Hinrich can shoot, drive (although infrequently), and pass. He can play and defend both backcourt positions. He can stick the three at a high percentage. He seems content coming off the bench. Hinrich provides the Bulls with great versatility. It’s very, very doubtful that he’ll ever become The Next John Stockton (as people were predicting three or four seasons ago), but the team won’t be crippled when Hinrich subs in for Derrick Rose or John Salmons. Some people complain because he gets paid like a starter, but in reality he could (and would) start for several teams. And being able to bring someone with Hinrich’s overall utility off the bench can be a real security blanket.
More Hinrich:
NBA.com profile
ESPN.com profile
Basketball-Reference profile
82games.com Player Stats
Wikipedia entry
Bonus video:
Answer: Dj Augustine, Corey Brewer, Randy Foye, Charlie Villenueva, Luol Deng, Nene, Eddie Griffin, & Chris Mihm.
Question: The other players taken at #7 since the year 2000.
Conclusion: I am happy with the pick and can’t complain about Capt. Kirk’s performance to date.
It is my opinion that if Captain Kirk does not play 30-35 min/gm the Bulls do not make the playoffs. 30-35 min/gm is easily attainable splitting time with Rose & Salmons and with a 3 guard setup Rose/Salmons/Hinrich. I believe that he is the leader and heart of the current Bulls. While Rose may eventually grow into that position Hinrich will make that transition easier. That being said, Captain Kirk needs to bulk up, and go to the basket a little more.
I’m a little alarmed at the positivity in these previews. I’m checking your basement for body pods.
I think that Kirk Hinrich is also a big puzzle piece when the Bulls drafted him since 2003 as a 1st round 7th pick. Overall, even if the Bulls are paying him a lot of money, I still think he is worth every penny. Every year when I watched him play, he is alway gaving it his very best on offense and especially on defense. Hinrich is a great teammate player to get along with, he is unselfish, he is a great leader and he never complains about his minutes or being a bench player. And if the bulls decided to trade him during this season, which I hope not. I just hope they also get in return a decent PG like Kirk!
Agree with Max, I also like Kirk Hinrich and I think is part of the reason why the bulls turn around their success again, since the Jordan eras. If anything, I hope they trade Deng, James or Tyrus Thomas if they are not playing well other then Captain Kirk.
Yah! I also agree with Max, if the Bulls do trade Kirk Hinrich for a garbage decent PG in return or for another player, that is not a PG, they will be stupid to make that move. If Hinrich is traded for a team with good talented player, he will make them better as a starting PG, playing big minutes. If i was the Bulls GM & money was going to be a big issue for me in the future. I would rather keep Kirk Hinrich until his contact is up because his age and he still has more mileage left on him. I would rather trade Deng, Ty Thomas or J. James for now, if they are not playing to their expectations. Remember, Deng has a bigger contact with more money then Kirk, along with Tyrus Thomas & J. James contracts, if you put them together.
Yah, Captain Kirk is the Man! He is a big part of the reason why the Bulls made the playoffs last season. So please don’t trade him Bulls! his number are going to go up because BG is not their no more.
The Bulls better not even think about trading Captain Kirk in a deal! They still need him believe it not, since they lost Ben Gordan. Hinrich is going to be a great backup guard to Rose or Salmon, if they get hurt during this season along with Pargo. His numbers are also going to go up now since BG is gone. If anything they should make a trade deal for Deng, Tyrus Thomas & J. James if they are not playing well.
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Kirk’s a first class bum. Chicago has the most hard on for worst players. Kirk was hurt and it helped Rose progress. He is the most over-hyped player in Chicago history.
Kirk is perfect to backup our guards. I don’t mind his contract because he backs up two positions very well and gives us better chemistry by keeping the rotation short. Rose, Salmons probable 20ppg efficiently, with Kirk backing up both guard spots. offensively or deffensively, who has a better backcourt in the nba?
Labs your a dumb ass, Captain Kirk is one of the best top players from the Bulls. he can guard 3 positions and he is a good scorer and a great defender.
lineup*
The video is sick
Great White Hype! You like him you probably go to town hall meetings. Best way to beat the Bulls is to let this guy dribble the clock off. Big time choker.
If Kirk plays more minutes this year. It means lottery for the Bulls. They are going to have a terrible season.
Roy & Obertine you guys are dumb asses! Captain Kirk is one of the best top players in this bulls roster. He can play good offense when he gets more minutes, play great defense, play 3 different positions, a great leader that does not complain & a great teammate to have. I don’t think you guys have been paying any attention to what captain Kirk has done for this team in the past seasons! The video speaks for itself, so start watching it.
So wait, this guy name Obertine, thinks that the Bulls are going to have a terrible season because they lost Ben Gordan or because all the teams in the east are stronger then the Bulls??? lol are you kidding me??? Please don’t make me laugh kid, the Bulls are a playoffs team again this season, but not a championship team yet. Their roster believe it or not, is still strong enough to get them to the playoffs. With D. Rose becoming an All-Star player, Salmon average more points now that BG is gone along with Deng numbers if he is healthy, Noah & Tyrus playing at a higher level because of their contracts, Brad Miller, J. Pargo & Hinrich being strong backup bench players putting up good #’s as well, along with their 2 new rookies. o0o and lets not forget, they are also now a stronger, bigger & better defensive team this season! GO BULLS!!!
He is an all-star level player who doesn’t turn the ball over and shoots at a high percentage. He doesn’t have the attitude like BG and is loved by many. As for Roy, White is Right!
If Kirk learned how to shoot a lay-up…he’d be much better. I’ve never seen a guy get to the rim and either shoot and miss or not shoot!