Kirk Archibeque is staying in Poland.
Following an outstanding collegiate career at the University of Northern Colorado and Fort Lewis University, the 2003 Montezuma-Cortez High School graduate has played for professional teams in Slovakia, Georgia, Belgium and Poland.
But until now, he’s never played for the same team for more than one season.
After joining PGE Turow Zgorzelec in January, Archibeque played 18 games and scored 14.7 points per game and led the league (Tauron Basket Liga) in rebounds, averaging 9.8 per game. He was also named Eurobasket.com’s Player of the Week for Round 24 in March.
Archibeque said that it was his best season as a pro, and with teams taking notice, the offers rolled in.
However, it was PGE Turow that presented the best offer and fit for he and his family, so for the first time in his professional career, Archibeque will play consecutive seasons with the same squad after signing a two-year contract extension last week.
“I had quite a few different offers, but my wife and I wanted a two-year deal and this team offered the most money and a two-year deal, so this is the best fit for us,” he explained. “We like the city and the organization and where they’re headed, so we wanted to go back.”
Archibeque is scheduled to return to the city of Zgorzelec around August 15 to start preseason workouts leading up to his eighth season as a pro. But that’s not to say he hasn’t been putting in time during the offseason. He said that his goal to begin the 2016-17 season was to drop 20 pounds.
He’s already accomplished it.
“The game of basketball is just evolving,” he explained. “So I just wanted to be in the best shape athletically to give myself the best chance to jump [up a league] again if I have an opportunity.”
Archibeque’s two-year deal with PGE Turow includes a buyout clause, so if he plays well in the first season and another team wants to buyout the second year of his contract, he would be free to sign elsewhere.
It’s a nice option to have, but Archibeque is content with his current situation.
He said that he’s happy with the housing, his family enjoys the city and that he is excited about the team and its future.
PGE Turow has, at least recently, been one of the more dominant franchises in the Polish Basketball League. They had five Polish League Finals appearances between 2007 and 2013, although they finished as runner up in each season. Finally, in 2013-14, the team won the league title.
And Archibeque is optimistic looking ahead.
“I’m pretty sure we’ll be top four next year and I just feel that this is a good place to continue my career,” he said. “I know the team that they’ve already put together – and they haven’t completed the roster – but it’s going to be a really good team this year.”
