He is also a retired professional basketball player who played for Panionios B.C., Ionikos Nikaias B.C., AEK B.C., Apollon Patras B.C.

Kikilias started his basketball career with Panionios BC and Ionikos Nikaias, and he then moved to AEK Athens.

He was a member of the AEK team that won the 2000 "Saporta" European Champion Cup and the 2002 Greek Basketball A1 League.

In 2007 he was appointed by the Mayor of Athens as President of Youth & Sports Organization, a position he held until 2011.

From 10 June 2014 to 27 January 2015, he served as Minister for Public Order and Citizen Protection in the Cabinet of Antonis Samaras.