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New Mexico center Alex Kirk exits a congratulatory huddle at the end of a Lobos game against San Diego State on Feb. 22. Kirk will have to explore his options for a team in the upcoming NBA draft.

Kirk eager for return to The Pit

Alex Kirk’s return to Wise Pies Arena will be anything but a business trip for the seven-footer in Sunday night’s Lobo All-Star game.

The former New Mexico Center said he is looking forward to seeing some familiar faces after forgoing his senior season to join the NBA.

“We don’t get to see each other that much,” Kirk said. “Now that we’re back we get a couple of days with each other, have some fun and give back to the community.”

Last year, Kirk declined his final year of eligibility to test the NBA draft. The Los Alamos native went undrafted, but was later picked up by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2014 offseason.

While playing both in the NBA and in the NBA Development League, Kirk’s journey from the Cleveland organization came to a halt after being part of a three-team trade that sent him to the New York Knicks in early January.

“I was in the layup line against the 76ers and they pulled me off of the court and said ‘Hey man you just got traded to the Knicks,’” Kirk said. “… I went back to Cleveland and just chilled for a bit. It was tough.”

Although Kirk didn’t appear in a single game in the Knicks organization, he was able to make some noise in the D-League averaging 12.2 points per contest while grabbing 6.5 boards. He said the move to the Development League helped him progress as a player.

“I didn’t really take it as a negative,” Kirk said. “(It) was just something to help me develop. So now I think I am a better player for it and I think it will help me going forward.”

While the trade was difficult for Kirk, he said his experience from being passed in the 2014 NBA draft prepared him for the business side of the NBA.

“I knew the business all along when I didn’t get drafted,” Kirk said. “I felt that I should have been drafted for several teams but they passed me up… I learned from day one that is was going to be a business.”

Kirk said his experience following his first full year as a professional athlete is not something he will take for granted. The seven-foot center said he has made a name for himself as he continues to pursue his career as a professional athlete.

“I think I opened up a lot of eyes,” Kirk said. “I think everyone expected me to bust up and wash out.”

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The former New Mexico big man said he has already been to several NBA minicamps, which include the San Antonio Spurs, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks and the New York Knicks. Kirk said he will also partake in the NBA Summer League for the Grizzlies and the Knicks.

Although the free agency signing period is not set to begin until July 1, Kirk said he is staying optimistic for what his future will hold.

“I just want to be somewhere where I am improving,” he said. “If that means I have to go overseas to improve, I’ll go overseas in a heartbeat. I have no issues with that.”

While Kirk’s fate as to whether or not he will stay in the United States to continue to play basketball, the center will be around this summer while working at a few basketball camps for kids.

“I’m running some camps up in northern New Mexico at the end of the summer,” Kirk said. “Obviously, you try to make some money off of these things, but the big thing is giving back to the people that helped you.”

Liam Cary-Eaves is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at assistantsports@dailylobo.com or on twitter @Liam_CE.

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