During his freshman and sophomore years of 1942–44, Kirk practiced and played alongside of the famous 'Whiz Kids' of Illinois, who won the Big 10 in consecutive seasons, 1941–42 & 1942–43.

Kirk, Jack Smiley and Ken Menke signed with the Ft. Wayne Zollner Pistons of the NBL (National Basketball League), who were world champions throughout most of the 1940s, and Andy Phillip, a future Naismith Hall of Fame player, and Gene Vance signed with the Chicago Stags.

In five NBL/BAA/NPBL/NBA seasons, Kirk played for six different teams: the Fort Wayne Pistons, Indianapolis Jets, Anderson Packers, Tri-Cities Blackhawks, Kansas City Hi-Spots (NPBL) and the Milwaukee Hawks.

[1] In April 1949, while a member of the Jets, Kirk's former teammates George Glamack and Leo Mogus sued the organization for $4,662.51 each after the three of them were released.

Glamack and Mogus cited poor management and administration on the part of the Jets as the reasons why they were unable to be retained.