Adam Niemiec graduated from the Faculty of Sanitary and Water Engineering at Warszawa University of Technology in 1970 with a masters in science and engineering. As a student Niemiec was a keen basketball player, representing AZS Warszawa and winning the Polish championship with the club in 1967. From 1968 to 1972 he also played in 62 matches for the national team, scoring 133 points. During this time he was part of the Polish squad that competed in the basketball tournament at the Mexico City Olympics, with him playing in six matches.