Phil Smyth
July 23, 2020
Wade Kirchmeyer
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 1/05/61
- Place of Birth:
- Position: F/C
- Height (CM): 201
- Weight (KG): #N/A
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Mesa State (1977-80) / Biola (1980-82)
- NBL DEBUT: 12/02/83
- AGE AT DEBUT: 21
- LAST NBL GAME: 4/07/83
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 22
- NBL History: Canberra 1983
- Championships: 1
- Canberra (1983)
NBL EXPERIENCE
Wade Kirchmeyer made his NBL debut with the Canberra Cannons at 21 years of age. He scored 24 points in his first game.
The 1983 season marked the beginning of a new era for the Canberra Cannons, with Bob Turner (via Newcastle) signing a three-year deal to become the team’s new head coach. Turner quickly put his stamp on the squad by building around three American imports—Wade Kirchmeyer, Dave Nelson, and Herb McEachin—and assembling a disciplined, defensively focused team capable of challenging the league’s best.
Canberra had a strong regular season, finishing with a 16–6 record—good for fourth overall and second in the NBL’s Western Division behind Geelong (18–4). Kirchmeyer (20.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists) led the team in scoring and was a consistent interior force, while Nelson (19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists) offered scoring versatility. McEachin (15.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks) brought a valuable two-way presence on the wing.
Australian Boomers point guard Phil Smyth (14.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 2.6 steals) anchored the backcourt, led the league in steals, and earned All-NBL First Team honours for his elite defensive play and leadership.
The 1983 NBL Finals series introduced a controversial structure—a divisional round-robin format for the top eight teams—before reverting to a traditional semifinal and Grand Final format. Despite the confusion, Canberra thrived. The Cannons defeated Nunawading (89–81), Geelong (86–81), and St. Kilda (104–85), going 3–0 in the round-robin phase and advancing to the semifinals as one of the league’s in-form teams.
In the semifinals, Canberra faced the Coburg Giants and secured a hard-fought 80–75 victory at Kilsyth Stadium. Wade Kirchmeyer (17 points) continued his strong postseason form, while Dave Nelson (18 points) and Herb McEachin (18 points) were efficient on both ends, each shooting 50% from the field and perfect from the free throw line. Smyth (20 points) was pivotal in the closing stages, calmly sinking all eight of his free throw attempts. Les Hurst added a spark off the bench with 5 points. Canberra’s composure at the stripe—20-of-22 free throws (91%)—proved decisive against a balanced Coburg team led by Benny Lewis (22 points) and Wayne Carroll (12 points).
The win propelled the Cannons into the Grand Final, where they faced the defending champion West Adelaide Bearcats. In a tense and tightly contested decider, Canberra edged out the Bearcats 75–73 to claim their first NBL championship. McEachin (18 points) led all Cannons scorers, with Kirchmeyer (17 points), Smyth (16 points), and Nelson (10 points) rounding out a well-balanced attack. Despite strong efforts from Leroy Loggins (23 points) and Al Green (18 points), West Adelaide couldn’t break through Canberra’s discipline and depth.
The 1983 title established the Cannons as an NBL powerhouse and cemented Bob Turner’s status as one of the league’s elite coaches—delivering a championship in his first season at the helm.
Wade Kirchmeyer played one season in the NBL. He averaged 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 27 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 22 | Canberra | 16-6 (4) | 27 | 0.0 | 563 | 255 | 53 | 91 | 164 | 24 | 10 | 65 | 98 | 226 | 405 | 56% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 111 | 156 | 71% | 59% | 56% | 34 | Totals | 27 | 0 | 563 | 255 | 53 | 91 | 164 | 24 | 10 | 65 | 98 | 226 | 405 | 55.8% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 111 | 156 | 71.2% | 59% | 56% | 34 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 22 | Canberra | 16-6 (4) | 27 | 0.0 | 20.9 | 9.4 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 6.1 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 8.4 | 15.0 | 56% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 4.1 | 5.8 | 71% | 58.8% | 56% | 34 | Total | 27 | 0.0 | 20.9 | 9.4 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 6.1 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 8.4 | 15.0 | 55.8% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 71.2% | 59% | 56% | 34 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 34 | 23 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
|---|
COLLEGE
Kirchmeyer played college basketball at Mesa State, As a freshman he was on the 1977-78 roster as a center wearing No. 30.
As a sophomore at Mesa State in 1978-79, he developed into one of the program’s top rebounders and finished with 228 rebounds at 9.2 per game while shooting 57.6 percent from the field.
As a junior in 1979-80 at Mesa State, Kirchmeyer earned All-RMAC honours and produced 527 points at 19.5 per game with 284 rebounds at 10.5 per game.
That 1979-80 season also included 200 field goals, 330 field goal attempts, 127 made free throws and a 62.2 field goal percentage, with his 527 points and 284 rebounds both ranking among the best single-season totals in school history.
Across his Mesa State career from 1978 to 1980, he totaled 512 rebounds, which kept him among the program’s career leaders long after he left.
Kirchmeyer transferred to Biola in 1980 and spent two seasons there, graduating with the class of 1985.
In 1980-81, Biola was coached by Howard Lyon and Dave Holmquist and finished 25-7 overall.
Kirchmeyer started all 23 games he played that season and averaged 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds while scoring 386 points, collecting 169 rebounds, handing out 64 assists, making 36 steals and blocking 7 shots.
His 1980-81 shooting line was 150-for-235 from the field for 63.8 percent and 86-for-121 at the free throw line for 71.1 percent.
Biola reached the NAIA national tournament that season, won the district final, then beat Central Washington 57-42 in the first national tournament round before falling to Huron 52-50 in the second round.
Kirchmeyer earned NAIA All-American second team honours in 1980-81 and also made the All-GSAC or NAIA All-District team.
In 1981-82, Biola returned nine players from the previous team, kept all five starters and put together one of the great small-college seasons of the era under co-coaches Dave Holmquist and Howard Lyon.
Kirchmeyer started all 40 games in 1981-82 and averaged 17.3 points per game with 691 points, 102 assists, 61 steals and 5 blocks while shooting 270-for-399 from the field for 67.7 percent and 151-for-207 at the foul line for 72.9 percent.
He scored in double figures 39 times that season, recorded 10 double-doubles, set a Biola single-season record with 691 points and also set a school single-season record with a 67.7 field goal percentage.
Biola finished 39-1 in 1981-82, opened the season with 39 straight wins, stayed ranked No. 1 in the NAIA throughout the year and reached the NAIA national championship game before losing 51-38 to South Carolina-Spartanburg.
That Biola team won the Point Loma tournament, won the district final, survived West Virginia Tech 69-66 in double overtime in the opening round of the NAIA tournament, then beat Quincy 62-56, Saginaw Valley State 42-40 and Kearney State 84-75 before the title-game loss.
Kirchmeyer was a first-team NAIA All-American in 1981-82 and again made the All-GSAC or NAIA All-District team.
Over his two Biola seasons, he played 63 games and totaled 1,077 points, 169 rebounds, 166 assists, 97 steals and 12 blocks while shooting 420-for-634 from the field for 66.2 percent and 237-for-328 at the line for 72.3 percent.
His 17.1 points per game average ranked among Biola’s all-time leaders, his 66.2 career field goal percentage stood as the best in program history, and Biola went 59-3 in games he played for the Eagles.
Kirchmeyer’s college path ran from three seasons at Mesa State through two standout years at Biola, where he became a two-time NAIA All-American and the starting forward on a national runner-up team that went 39-1.
Related
HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PLAYER?
Whilst we try to source as much information as we can for every player who has ever played in the NBL some information on a player profile may be missing. If you have additional information on a player you'd like us to add to a profile, please send it to us using the enquiry form below.
Submissions are then sent to info@aussiehoopla.com