Kyle Elliot Korver (born March 17, 1981) is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Creighton and was drafted with the 51st overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft by the New Jersey Nets. Korver became an NBA All-Star for the first time in 2015, and holds the NBA record for the highest three-point field goal percentage in a season (with 53.6%). He also formerly held the NBA record for most consecutive games with a made three-pointer (with 127).
College career
As a freshman at Creighton, Korver was named to the MVC All-Bench, All-Freshman and All-Newcomer teams after he averaged 8.8 points per game while hitting 43.4 percent from three-point range and 89.5 percent at the free-throw line.
As a sophomore, Korver earned All-MVC second team honors while leading the conference tournament champion Bluejays with 14.6 points per game. He was also named to the MVC All-Tournament team.
As a junior, Korver led the Bluejays to both the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and conference tournament championships. He was then named MVC Player of the Year and an honorable mention All-American.
As a senior, Korver again earned MVC Player of the Year and first team All-MVC honors. He was also a consensus second-team All-American and a finalist for the Wooden, Naismith, and Oscar Robertson awards.
Korver finished his career at Creighton fourth all-time in scoring (1,801) and first in three-pointers made (371), three-point percentage (45.3), and free-throw percentage (89.1). His 371 career made three-pointers is a MVC record and tied for sixth most in NCAA history. Korver also holds Creighton single-season records for three-pointers made (129), three-point percentage (.480), and free-throw percentage (.908).
Korver graduated with a bachelor's degree in Visual Communications.
College statistics
Season | Team | G | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG% | 3P% | FT% | TO |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1999-00 | Creighton Bluejays | 33 | 18.2 | 8.8 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | .475 | .434 | .895 | 1.3 |
2000-01 | Creighton Bluejays | 32 | 29.4 | 14.6 | 5.8 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 0.4 | .470 | .452 | .867 | 1.8 |
2001-02 | Creighton Bluejays | 29 | 31.6 | 15.1 | 5.5 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 0.7 | .478 | .429 | .890 | 2.2 |
2002-03 | Creighton Bluejays | 34 | 31.8 | 17.8 | 6.4 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 0.7 | .468 | .480 | .908 | 2.0 |
Totals | 128 | 27.7 | 14.1 | 5.2 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.5 | .472 | .453 | .891 | 1.8 |
Professional career
Philadelphia 76ers (2003-2007)
Korver was selected with the 51st overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft by the New Jersey Nets. His draft rights were traded later that night to the Philadelphia 76ers. On August 8, 2003, he signed a two-year deal with the 76ers. Korver finished his rookie season averaging 4.1 points in 11.9 minutes per game.
Korver finished the 2004-05 season tied for the NBA league leader in three-pointers made with 226, which also marked a 76ers franchise record.
On August 2, 2005, Korver re-signed with the 76ers to a six-year, $25 million contract. Korver scored a career-high 31 points against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 24, 2006, and duplicated that performance on February 21, 2007 against the New York Knicks. He averaged a career-high 14.4 points per game during the 2006-07 season, and led the NBA in free-throw percentage with 91.4 percent.
Utah Jazz (2007-2010)
On December 29, 2007, Korver was traded to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Gordan Giriček and a future first-round draft pick.
Korver spent two and a half seasons in Utah, mostly coming off the bench as the team's sixth man. Korver finished the 2009-10 season hitting 53.6 percent of his three-point shots to secure the NBA's single-season accuracy record. He drilled 59-of-110 three-pointers, edging the record percentage of .524 that Steve Kerr set in 1994-95. Korver played in just 52 games for the Jazz in 2009-10, but his spot-on shooting surged after he finally returned fully healthy after the All-Star break, having struggled with wrist and knee issues following surgeries to both in 2009.
Chicago Bulls (2010-2012)
On July 13, 2010, Korver signed with the Chicago Bulls. In 2010-11, Korver, for the third time in his career, appeared in 82 games (all coming off the bench), and averaged 8.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 20.1 minutes (.434 FG%, .415 3FG%, .885 FT%). The Bulls finished first in the Eastern Conference in 2011, and advanced to the Conference Finals where they were defeated by the Miami Heat 4-1.
On March 10, 2012, Korver arguably had his best game as a Bull, recording 26 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in a 111-97 win over his former team, the Utah Jazz.
Atlanta Hawks (2012-present)
2012-13 season
On July 16, 2012, Korver was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for cash considerations. In 2012-13, he averaged 10.9 points in 30.5 minutes per game, while recording percentages of .461 FG%, .457 3FG%, and .859 FT%. He finished second in the NBA in three-point percentage and fourth in three-point field goals made with 189. He made at least one three-pointer in his final 73 games of the season, the longest active streak in the NBA at the time, a career-best and the fourth longest streak in league history (Dana Barros 89, Michael Adams 79, Dennis Scott 78). In addition, his 189 made three's was the fourth-best single season total in franchise history.
2013-14 season
On July 12, 2013, Korver re-signed with the Hawks to a four-year, $24 million contract. On December 6, 2013, Korver passed the NBA record for most consecutive games with a made three-pointer (90) originally set by Dana Barros (89). The streak eventually ended at 127 games on March 5, 2014. Korver finished the 2013-14 season with a 47.2 percent three-point shooting percentage which led the NBA.
2014-15 season
On December 15, 2014, Korver passed Jason Richardson for 15th all-time in three-pointers made. Five days later, in the Hawks' 104-97 win over the Houston Rockets, Korver scored a game-high 22 points and made all four of his free-throw attempts. This gave him 49 consecutive made free-throws on the season to set a new Hawks franchise record. The streak ended at 50 in the Hawks' next game against the Dallas Mavericks. On February 10, 2015, Korver received his first NBA All-Star selection as a reserve for the Eastern Conference in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game, replacing the injured Dwyane Wade. At 33 years and 11 months old, he became the fourth-oldest first-time All-Star. On March 11, in a loss to the Denver Nuggets, Korver passed Kobe Bryant for 12th on the all-time three-pointers made list. Four days later, in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers, Korver left the game with a broken nose after taking an offensive foul from Ed Davis with 8:59 left in the first half. The injury ended a streak of 51 consecutive games with a three-pointer by Korver, who missed both of his shots from behind the arc. After missing three games with the injury, he returned to action on March 22 against the San Antonio Spurs with protective gear on his face to cover the nose.
On April 29, 2015, Korver was named the recipient of the Joe Dumars Trophy for winning the 2014-15 NBA Sportsmanship Award. During the 2015 playoffs, Korver suffered a right ankle sprain playing against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 22 in the Eastern Conference Finals. The following day, he was ruled out for the rest of the playoffs.
2015-16 season
On November 6, 2015, Korver scored 22 points, hitting all eight of his shots, including four from three-point range, as the Hawks won their sixth straight with a 121-115 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. On December 26, in a win over the New York Knicks, Korver hit one three-pointer and passed Rashard Lewis for ninth place on the all-time list for three-pointers made. However, his late December shooting slump marked one of the worst shooting stretches of his career. In four games between December 23-29, Korver shot 5-of-33 from the field and a woeful 2-of-27 from three-point range. Korver continued to struggle with his shot in January, missing all six of his shots on January 31 against the Miami Heat, marking just the third time in his career that he went 0-of-6 or worse as a starter. Over 47 games to begin the season, his 42% field goal shooting was the worst it's been since the 2004-05 season, and his 37% three-point shooting was a career-low success rate.
NBA career statistics
Legend | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Led the NBA | |
† | NBA record |
Regular season
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003-04 | Philadelphia | 74 | 0 | 11.9 | .352 | .391 | .792 | 1.5 | .5 | .3 | .1 | 4.5 |
2004-05 | Philadelphia | 82 | 57 | 32.5 | .418 | .405 | .854 | 4.6 | 2.2 | 1.3 | .4 | 11.5 |
2005-06 | Philadelphia | 82 | 43 | 31.3 | .430 | .420 | .849 | 3.3 | 2.0 | .8 | .3 | 11.5 |
2006-07 | Philadelphia | 74 | 1 | 30.9 | .440 | .430 | .914 | 3.5 | 1.4 | .8 | .3 | 14.4 |
2007-08 | Philadelphia | 25 | 0 | 26.3 | .396 | .352 | .912 | 2.9 | 1.3 | .8 | .2 | 10.0 |
2007-08 | Utah | 50 | 0 | 21.5 | .474 | .388 | .917 | 2.0 | 1.4 | .4 | .5 | 9.8 |
2008-09 | Utah | 78 | 2 | 24.0 | .438 | .386 | .882 | 3.3 | 1.8 | .6 | .4 | 9.0 |
2009-10 | Utah | 52 | 0 | 18.3 | .493 | .536† | .796 | 2.1 | 1.7 | .5 | .2 | 7.2 |
2010-11 | Chicago | 82 | 0 | 20.1 | .434 | .415 | .885 | 1.8 | 1.5 | .4 | .2 | 8.3 |
2011-12 | Chicago | 65 | 7 | 22.6 | .432 | .435 | .833 | 2.4 | 1.7 | .6 | .2 | 8.1 |
2012-13 | Atlanta | 74 | 60 | 30.5 | .461 | .457 | .859 | 4.0 | 2.0 | .9 | .5 | 10.9 |
2013-14 | Atlanta | 71 | 71 | 33.9 | .475 | .472 | .926 | 4.0 | 2.9 | 1.0 | .3 | 12.0 |
2014-15 | Atlanta | 75 | 75 | 32.2 | .487 | .492 | .898 | 4.1 | 2.6 | .7 | .6 | 12.1 |
Career | 884 | 316 | 26.2 | .442 | .432 | .881 | 3.1 | 1.8 | .7 | .3 | 10.0 | |
All-Star | 1 | 0 | 15.6 | .538 | .583 | .000 | 1.0 | 2.0 | .0 | .0 | 21.0 |
Playoffs
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | Philadelphia | 5 | 5 | 29.4 | .286 | .292 | 1.000 | 2.6 | 1.6 | .8 | .2 | 5.0 |
2008 | Utah | 12 | 0 | 21.6 | .411 | .289 | .920 | 2.2 | .6 | .3 | .7 | 7.8 |
2009 | Utah | 5 | 2 | 27.2 | .391 | .462 | .714 | 2.2 | 2.6 | .6 | .2 | 10.6 |
2010 | Utah | 10 | 0 | 21.0 | .525 | .478 | .889 | 1.1 | 1.3 | .5 | .0 | 8.3 |
2011 | Chicago | 16 | 0 | 17.4 | .388 | .423 | 1.000 | 1.2 | 1.1 | .5 | .2 | 6.6 |
2012 | Chicago | 6 | 0 | 15.7 | .409 | .308 | .500 | 1.7 | 1.5 | .5 | .5 | 3.8 |
2013 | Atlanta | 6 | 2 | 29.5 | .388 | .353 | .917 | 3.3 | .7 | .3 | .7 | 10.2 |
2014 | Atlanta | 7 | 7 | 35.1 | .455 | .426 | .917 | 5.3 | .7 | .6 | .3 | 13.4 |
2015 | Atlanta | 14 | 14 | 37.6 | .391 | .355 | .813 | 5.0 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 11.1 |
Career | 81 | 30 | 25.6 | .410 | .377 | .880 | 2.7 | 1.3 | .7 | .5 | 8.6 |
Awards, honors, and records
NBA
- NBA record for highest three-point shooting percentage in a regular season (53.6%)
- 2009-10 NBA leader in three-point percentage (53.6%)
- 2013-14 NBA leader in three-point percentage (47.2%)
- 2014-15 NBA leader in three-point percentage (49.2%)
- 2006-07 NBA leader in free-throw percentage (91.4%)
- 2004-05 NBA leader (tied) in three-point field goals made (226)
- 2014-15 NBA All-Star
- 2014-15 NBA Sportmanship Award
- Philadelphia 76ers record for three-point field goals made in a season (226)
NCAA
- Missouri Valley Conference career made three-pointers record (371)
- Missouri Valley Conference single season made three-pointers record (123): 2003
- Consensus Second Team All-American: 2003
- Honorable Mention All-American by Associated Press: 2002
- Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year: 2002, 2003
- First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference: 2002, 2003
- Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference: 2001
- Missouri Valley Conference Tournament MVP: 2002, 2003
- Missouri Valley Conference All-Tournament Team: 2001, 2002, 2003
- Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Team: 2000
- Missouri Valley Conference All-Bench Team: 2000
- Guardians Classic Omaha Regional MVP: 2003
- Guardians Classic Tournament MVP: 2003
- Guardians Classic All-Tournament Team: 2003
- CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Player of the Year: 2003
- CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major All-America Team: 2002, 2003
Personal
Korver was born in Paramount, California and is the oldest of four children to Kevin and Laine Korver. He grew up in the Los Angeles area, and was a Los Angeles Lakers fan as a child. Watching Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the Showtime Lakers instilled a love of basketball in Korver that made him want to pursue it himself. He moved with his family to Iowa in 1993 and graduated from Pella High School.
Korver has three brothers, Kirk, Kaleb, and Klayton, all of whom have played Division I basketball. Klayton was a guard/forward for the Drake Bulldogs while Kaleb was a guard for the Creighton Bluejays. Kirk currently plays forward at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. His mother Laine played high-school basketball and once scored 74 points in a game. Korver's father, Kevin, is a pastor in Pella, Iowa. Korver's uncle, Kris Korver, is the head basketball coach at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. His cousin Kari Korver plays for the UCLA Bruins women's basketball team.
Korver married Juliet Richardson on August 10, 2011. Their daughter, Kyra Elyse, was born on December 5, 2012.
Korver is a Christian. Korver has spoken about his faith in Jesus saying, "He is the one who came and paid for my sins that I may get to heaven someday and be with Him. He is my example. He’s my everything."
Korver has his own charitable foundation, called the "Kyle Korver Foundation", which contributes to many philanthropic causes. He held a coat drive while with the 76ers, where he collected and donated coats to kids in need. In 2013, he started an annual sock drive in October called the "Socktober Drive" in which he collects socks to donate to homeless people in Atlanta. Korver has also participated in the NBA's Basketball Without Borders outreach program in Africa, China, Brazil, and India.