Kirk Penney in a Maccabi Tel Aviv uniform. |
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| Position | Shooting guard Small forward |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| League | ACB |
| Team | Baloncesto Fuenlabrada |
| Born | 23 November 1980 North Shore, Auckland |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| College | University of Wisconsin–Madison |
| Draft | Undrafted, 2003 |
| Pro career | 1998–present |
| Career history | North Harbour Kings (1998–99) Miami Heat (2003) Gran Canaria (2003–04) Asheville Altitude (2004–05) Los Angeles Clippers (2004–2005) Maccabi Tel Aviv (2005–06) Žalgiris Kaunas (2006–07) ALBA Berlin (2007) New Zealand Breakers (2007–10; 2010–11) Sioux Falls Skyforce (2010) Baloncesto Fuenlabrada (2011-) |
| Awards | New Zealand NBL Rookie of the Year 1998 Australasian NBL MVP 2009 All NBL First team 2008–2011 |
Kirk Samuel Penney (born 23 November 1980 in North Shore, Auckland) is a New Zealand professional basketball player currently playing for Baloncesto Fuenlabrada from the Spanish ACB.
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After playing high school basketball at Westlake Boys High School in New Zealand, and playing three seasons in New Zealand's National Basketball League, he played college basketball in the United States at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1999 through 2003. Penney was named first-team All-Big Ten during his junior and senior seasons and an honorable mention All-American during his senior season, where he averaged 16.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists.[1]
Penney played in the 2000 Final Four and formed a backcourt duo with one-time NBA all star Devin Harris, now with the Utah Jazz.
He was not drafted in the star-studded 2003 NBA Draft but reportedly received offers from the Minnesota Timberwolves to play in the summer league a mere twenty minutes after the draft was complete. He led the league in 3-point accuracy of over 50% in his two stints as he was also there in 2004.
Penney finally got a taste of NBA action when the Miami Heat signed him to a 10-day contract on 3 November 2003. Penney became the second New Zealander (after Sean Marks) to play in the NBA and made his first ever NBA shot, a three-pointer from left corner. However, his stint was short-lived, being cut by the Heat just four days later.
He then played in the D-League for the Asheville Altitude, where he was taken second in the player draft. He went on to be part of the winning 2004–2005 NBDL championship team, averaging 12.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 42 games.[2]
During this time, Penney was signed by the Los Angeles Clippers on 26 December 2004, and played sporadically in a four-game stint for until being waived on 3 January 2005.
Penney later signed with European powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv upon becoming a free agent after the 2004–05 season. Penney was often underplayed, rather used primarily as a shooter off the bench. Penney however was a part of Maccabi's win over NBA team the Toronto Raptors in pre-season play for both teams (in October 2005). It marked a rare occasion that an NBA team had lost to a European-based team at home.
In the 2006–2007 season, Penney played for Žalgiris Kaunas, but on 14 February 2007 he went to German team ALBA Berlin.[3]
He returned to New Zealand in June of the same year by signing with the New Zealand Breakers,[4] his home town team (as Penney attended nearby high school Westlake Boys High School).
Penney's addition to the previously unsuccessful Breakers proved to be the tonic for the Breakers success, with the team qualifying for their first ever finals series, before eventually finishing in sixth position overall. Individually, Penney was the league's third leading scorer, averaging 24.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals over 31 games, was a starter for the World All-Stars team, and named to the NBL's First Team as reward for his efforts.
In the 2008–09 season, Penney led the league in scoring and was first Kiwi player ever to be named in the All-NBL First Team for consecutive seasons. He took home the Andrew Gaze MVP trophy for leading the Breakers to their best season ever, averaging 24.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists over 28 games, making Penney the first Kiwi to be honoured with the award.[5] Included in Penney's feats were being award the NBL Player of the Month in October 2008.[6]
On 21 January 2010, Penney scored a career-high 49 points in a 103–89 win over the Adelaide 36ers in Auckland, with his efforts being rewarded with the Player of the Week award.[7]
In March 2010, Penney joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA D-League. In his first outing he scored 12 points in 21 minutes against the Springfield Armor. He followed that with a 31 point performance in his second outing (also against the Springfield Armor), and then a 40 point, 8 rebound game against the Bakersfield Jam.[8]
In the 2010 NBA D-League playoffs Penney averaged 21.3 points 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game for the Skyforce as they lost their first round playoff series to the Tulsa 66ers 2–1.[9]
In September 2010, Penney was invited by the San Antonio Spurs to compete for a roster spot.[10][11] He was waived on 11 October.[12]
On 27 October 2010 he returned again to play for New Zealand Breakers in the NBL.[13]
In July 2011 he signed with Baloncesto Fuenlabrada in Spain.[14]
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Competitor for New Zealand | ||
| Men's Basketball | ||
| Oceanian Championships | ||
| Gold | 2009 Oceaina | National team |
Penney debuted for the Tall Blacks at the age of just 18 (in 1999) and has now represented the Tall Blacks, his country's national team, at two Olympic Games (in 2000 and 2004) and three world championships (2002, 2006 and 2010).
Penney was part of the Tall Blacks' memorable 2002 World Championships campaign as they surprisingly finished fourth. Penney averaged 16.9 points per contest and hit 45.5% of his three-point shots.[15]
With the decline of Pero Cameron, Penney has become New Zealand's marquee player on the international scene, but despite averaging 20.7 points during the Tall Blacks campaign for a 2008 Olympics berth, the team fell short of achieving their place at Beijing.
Penney, now one of the most senior Tall Blacks, is now captain of New Zealand. Penney led New Zealand to victory in the FIBA Oceania Championship 2009, beating Australia 177–162 on aggregate, after the two-match tie was drawn 1–1.[16] Penney was influential in both games, with 23 points and 4 assists in Game 1, and a virtuoso 24-point, 7-rebound and 10-assist performance in Game 2, thus winning the Al Ramsay Shield.
Kirk Penney is the brother of Rodd Penney, who is also a professional sportsman, and has played Rugby Union in Italy.[17]
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