Kolbeinn started playing basketball at the age of 14. During his youth he was an avid Handball player and played with KR in the Icelandic top-tier handball league during the 1962–1963 before focusing fully on basketball.[4]
Playing career
Kolbeinn spent his entire career with KR, playing a total of 383 games for the club. He last played during the 1980-1981 season, appearing in 4 games. On 18 November 1966 he scored 25 points against defending champions Simmenthal Milano in the FIBA European Champions Cup (now called EuroLeague).[5][1]
On 1 December 1977 Kolbeinn ruptured his left achilles tendon in a game against Valur. He managed to return before the end of the season and participated in the extra game between KR and Njarðvík where KR won the national championship.[6]
National team
Kolbeinn played 55 games for the Icelandic national team from 1966 to 1976.[7] He played his first game in 1966 against Poland.[8] In 1966 he made two free throws in the final seconds of Iceland's game against Denmark, giving them victory and the bronze in the 1966 Nordic Championships.[9]