Kieron Achara
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Stirling, Scotland | 3 July 1983
Nationality | British |
Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
Listed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Stirling High School[1] (Scotland) Maine Central Institute (Pittsfield, Maine) |
College | Duquesne (2003–2008) |
NBA draft | 2008: undrafted |
Playing career | 2008–2019 |
Position | Power forward |
Career history | |
1999–2002 | Falkirk Fury |
2001–2002 | Teesside Mohawks |
2008–2009 | Fortitudo Bologna |
2009–2010 | Angelico Biella |
2010 | Glasgow Rocks |
2010–2011 | Sigma Barcellona |
2011–2012 | Assignia Manresa |
2012 | Glasgow Rocks |
2012–2013 | Kavala BC |
2013–2014 | Lukoil Academic |
2014 | Sidigas Avellino |
2014–2015 | Falkirk Fury |
2015–2019 | Glasgow Rocks |
Career highlights and awards | |
Kieron Robert Nnamdi Achara MBE (born 3 July 1983) is a Scottish professional basketball player who last played for the Glasgow Rocks. He is a 6'10" (2.08 m) forward who played college basketball at Duquesne University and represented Scotland and Great Britain at national team level.
Professional career
[edit]After graduating from Duquesne University Achara turned professional in 2008. He began his career abroad in Italy. He came back to Scotland in 2010 when he joined Scotland's only professional basketball team, the Glasgow Rocks. On 26 September 2010, Achara debuted for the Glasgow Rocks in a game against Sheffield Sharks, which they won 80–76. Following two successful years in Spain Achara signed a short two-week contract in 2012 with the Glasgow Rocks. After further spells in Europe, Achara re-signed for the Rocks for the 2014-15 season.[2] He retired in 2019 after reaching three BBL Cup finals with the team (2015, 2017 and 2019), finishing on the losing side on each occasion.[3]
Achara was recognised by Stirling Highland Games as a famous born son of Stirling and offered him the honorary position as their 2019 Games Chieftain.[4]
National team career
[edit]Achara is the youngest player ever to play for the Scotland national team, featuring in the FIBA Europe Promotion Cup. He made his debut for Great Britain in 2008, shortly before turning professional.[5] Achara was a part of the British Basketball team which took part in the London 2012 Olympics.
References
[edit]- ^ Basketball player Heads for a seven-figure salary as he signs for spanish club | Teenager makes the jump to higher things in Europe, The Herald, 28 August 2001
- ^ Glasgow Rocks skipper Kieron Achara reveals family struggles that inspired him to hit big time, Mark Woods, Daily Record, 10 January 2015
- ^ Kieron Achara to retire at the end of the season, British Basketball League, 21 March 2019
- ^ "2019 Starts with a slam dunk for Stirling Highland Games". Stirling Highland Games. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ "Outlook's sunny for basketball star". Scotland on Sunday. 28 July 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2008.
External links
[edit]
- 1983 births
- Living people
- Basketball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Bàsquet Manresa players
- Duquesne Dukes men's basketball players
- British expatriate basketball people in Greece
- British expatriate basketball people in Italy
- British expatriate basketball people in Spain
- Fortitudo Pallacanestro Bologna players
- Caledonia Gladiators players
- Kavala B.C. players
- Liga ACB players
- Olympic basketball players for Great Britain
- Pallacanestro Biella players
- PBC Academic players
- Power forwards
- Scottish men's basketball players
- Scottish expatriate sportspeople in Italy
- Scottish expatriate sportspeople in Spain
- Sportspeople from Stirling
- S.S. Felice Scandone players
- Basketball players at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
- British expatriate basketball people in the United States
- Commonwealth Games competitors for Scotland
- Scottish expatriate sportspeople in the United States
- Scottish expatriate sportspeople in Greece
- Members of the Order of the British Empire
- People educated at Stirling High School
- Scottish people of Nigerian descent
- Black British sportsmen
- Expatriate basketball people in Bulgaria
- Scottish expatriate sportspeople in Bulgaria
- 21st-century Scottish sportsmen
- British basketball biography stubs