Eric Kibi | High Risk, High Reward in Syria | Voices From The Court
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Eric Kibi | High Risk, High Reward in Syria | Voices From The Court
digi hoopsbi
EK
Eric KibiCo-authorPro Basketball Player
My name is Eric Kibi. I just finished my 14th year of professional basketball. Throughout my career I have played in 16 countries spanning Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa. Being now 35 years old, most people ask: when will I stop? Why do I keep going? When will I get a real job? Are you not scared in these countries?
Article Details
Published:6/28/2026
Last Updated:6/28/2026
Status:Published
About the Author
digi hoopsbi
digital@hoopsbi.com
About the Co-author
EK
Eric Kibi
Pro Basketball Player
To understand my journey, we truly have to go back to where it all started.
I was born in Quebec City, Canada — obviously not your typical basketball hotbed. My family eventually moved to the capital, Ottawa, when I was 8 years old. This is where my passion for basketball took on a life of its own.
Every kid who picks up a basketball dreams of playing in the NBA. No kid dreams of playing professional basketball in Syria.
I gave everything possible to my NBA dream. I left home at 15 years old to attend prep school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I then played Junior College basketball at Jacksonville College for two seasons, where I was a JUCO All-American. From there, I played Division 1 basketball at the University of Arkansas Little Rock, which included an NCAA tournamentappearance in 2011. Unfortunately, the route I took was not enough to attract NBA interest when I graduated in 2012.
In August 2012, I started my professional career in Hamburg, Germany. It was the first time I had left North America — Europe was completely new to me. With things not going well on the court, by December I was ready to go home and get a real job. A text from my agent around the Christmas holidays changed my entire career. It simply read: “they are thinking of replacing you after Christmas if you don’t play well tomorrow.” That message woke me up. If I was going to go home, it was going to be on my own terms, with no regrets. I proceeded to have one of the best games of my career the next day.
Some athletes thrive in their comfort zones. Others thrive under pressure. My journey has always taken me out of my comfort zone — and I have always been comfortable being uncomfortable. Since a young age, I have thrived by adjusting to new environments. I believe this is one of the most important skills you must have to succeed in this business.
My professional career has never been perfect and, like the rest of my life, has always been unpredictable. But what has never changed is my work ethic and my ability to adapt and perform under pressure — on and off the court. My repeated failures set me up for success later. Even when I didn’t fully understand a situation at the time, I always knew it would position me for success at a different stage.
Taking the Risk
After playing the majority of my career in Europe — in countries like Germany, France, Spain, Denmark, and Holland — I decided to take a risk and sign in Iraq in 2019. My career in Europe had become very stagnant and I felt the need to try a different market. As always, many wondered why. Are you not scared?
I have never been someone who listens to other people’s opinions. I have always made my own decisions and trusted my instincts — just like when I was questioned for leaving home at 15 or for choosing to go the Junior College route. I’ve always taken risks. Sometimes I failed, but the majority of the time I succeeded. Either way, I’ve always lived with the results. What I would never be able to live with is regret.
High risk, high reward — right?
2019 leads us to today in 2026. While I had success in Europe, my best years came after that first season in Iraq. That risk opened up different markets for me — ones that were more suitable to my playing style. What I came to understand as my career progressed is that I needed to know the markets and where my value was most needed. You have to stay where you are needed, not just tolerated.
The mistake most young basketball players make is worrying too much about how things look from the outside. Most players go where they are only tolerated for the sake of how it looks on paper. Of course that can work, but it takes a certain self-awareness to understand your own game and where you will truly be successful. For example, most kids want to play Division 1 basketball — which is completely normal — but there is no shame in taking the JUCO route or the Division 2 route. There are many different paths to success, and talent will always be found. Trust your work.
Europe vs. the Other Markets
After not playing in Europe for almost three seasons, I decided — for family reasons — to give Europe one last chance for the 2025–26 season. My last three European stints had been quite successful in France, Holland, and Romania, so I figured the transition to Sweden, a slightly lower-tier market, would be smooth. I was proven wrong. I quickly understood that Europe was no longer my market.
What we have to understand as overseas basketball players is there is no shame in being honest with yourself. It doesn’t mean you are not good enough — sometimes situations simply dictate the decisions you have to make.
Here’s how the two worlds compare:
Europe:
• More structure and stability
• Guaranteed contracts
• Better living conditions and western culture
• Longer seasons
Middle East, South America & Asia:
• Late payments and less contract security are common
• Living conditions are not always ideal
• Cultural adjustments (limited social life, slow wifi, etc.)
• Higher salaries
• Lighter practice loads
• Shorter seasons — meaning you can move up leagues quite rapidly
So why expose myself to these challenges? The answer, once again, is high risk, high reward. In each of my last two Middle East seasons, I was able to earn a promotion to a higher league midway through the season.
Syria: Breaking the Stereotypes
After a successful stint in Jordan, once the season ended I signed in Syria — an upgrade compared to theJordanian league. Now, everyone hears “Syria” and alarm bells go off. Once again: why are you not scared?
Let me address the three most common reactions:
To the average person: Yes, Syria has been torn apart by war. But Syria entered a new regime in late 2024 and has been war-free since. Syria was also the only region not targeted in the most recent Iran–USA–Israel conflict. I am not saying Syria has fully recovered emotionally from years of war — but from my personal experience traveling throughout the country for games, Syria is safe.
To the average basketball fan: Syria has a professional basketball league — and it’s more serious than most people think.
To the European basketball agents: If Syria is such a low-level league, then why have former NBA players like Devin Ebanks, Henry Sims, Zach Lofton, and Sir Dominic Pointer taken high six-figure deals to play there?
During my time in Syria I was living in Damascus. To my pleasant surprise, Damascus was amazing. The city had everything you needed to live a comfortable social life — cafés, restaurants, bars, malls, everything. The food was outstanding. Best of all, the people of Syria are incredibly welcoming and always ready to help.
Closing Thoughts
Syria, just like the rest of my Middle East experiences, was life-enriching. The cultures of the Middle East always make me feel at home. Yes, there is more pressure — but pressure is a privilege.
The Middle East has given my basketball career a second breath of life. There is no politics here. Whether you are 35 or 25, you are judged on the court — as it should be. You cannot hide behind a system. If you can’t score, you will be exposed. If you can’t defend, you will be exposed. This is the type of basketball I love.
At 35, some people think my story should be winding down. I think it’s still being written. Every “why are you not scared?” is really just another way of asking why I still believe. And the answer is simple: because I always have. I’ve never needed the safest path — I’ve needed the right one.
