Kirk Penney

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Kirk Penney

Kirk Penney in a Maccabi Tel Aviv uniform in 2005.
Trabzonspor
Position Shooting guard / Small forward
League Turkish Basketball League
Personal information
Born (1980-11-23) 23 November 1980
Auckland, New Zealand
Nationality New Zealand
Listed height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Listed weight 220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school Westlake Boys
(Auckland, New Zealand)
College Wisconsin (1999–2003)
NBA draft 2003 / Undrafted
Pro playing career 1997–present
Career history
1997–2000 North Harbour Kings (New Zealand)
2003 Miami Heat
2003–2004 CB Gran Canaria (Spain)
2004 Asheville Altitude (D-League)
2004–2005 Los Angeles Clippers
2005 Asheville Altitude (D-League)
2005–2006 Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)
2006–2007 Žalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)
2007 ALBA Berlin (Germany)
2007–2010 New Zealand Breakers (Australasia)
2010 Sioux Falls Skyforce (D-League)
2010–2011 New Zealand Breakers (Australasia)
2011–2012 Baloncesto Fuenlabrada (Spain)
2012–2013 TED Ankara Kolejliler (Turkey)
2013–present Trabzonspor (Turkey)
Career highlights and awards
  • Eurobasket TBL All-Imports Team (2013)
  • Eurobasket TBL First Team (2013)
  • TBL Three-Point Shootout champion (2013, 2014)
  • TBL All-Star (2013, 2014)
  • Eurobasket Liga ACB All-Imports Team (2012)
  • Eurobasket Liga ACB Second Team (2012)
  • Australasian NBL champion (2011)
  • 4× All-NBL First Team (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
  • NBL MVP (2009)
  • Australasian NBL All-Star (2008)
  • Baltic Basketball League All-Star (2007)
  • NBA Development League champion (2005)
  • All-American, Honorable Mention (2003)
  • First Team All-Big Ten (2002, 2003)
  • New Zealand NBL Rookie of the Year (1998)

Kirk Samuel Penney (born 23 November 1980) is a New Zealand professional basketball player who currently plays for Trabzonspor Basketball of the Turkish Basketball League.

Career

University of Wisconsin (1999–2003)

He played college basketball in the United States at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1999 through 2003. In his Freshman season Penney played in the 2000 Final Four. In his Junior season Penney was named first-team All-Big Ten. During his Senior season he was once again named first-team All-Big Ten and an honorable mention All-American, where he averaged 16.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists.[1]

Penney formed a backcourt duo with future NBA All-Star Devin Harris.

Professional Career Overseas (2003–2007)

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 moments after the draft was complete. He led the summer league in 3-point accuracy of over 50%.

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 several days later. Days later he signed to play the rest of the 2003-04 season in the ACB (Spain) with CB Gran Canaria.

The following year he played in the D-League for the Asheville Altitude, where he was taken first round, pick no. 6 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 until being waived on 3 January 2005.

Penney then signed with European powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv upon becoming a free agent after the 2004–05 season. Penney was used sparingly as a shooter off the bench with 47.8% 3-point accuracy. Penney 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. That year Maccabi qualified for the Euroleague Final Four, eventually losing to CSKA Moscow in the final.

In the 2006–07 season, Penney played for Žalgiris Kaunas, after the Euroleague season ended and Žalgiris Kaunas won the Lithuanian Basketball League Cup, Penney switched teams. On 14 February 2007 he went to German team ALBA Berlin where they finished the German regular season in first place.[3]

Return Home (2007–2010)

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]

On 21 January 2010, Penney scored a career-high 49 points in a 103–89 win over the Adelaide 36ers in Auckland. During that 2009-10 season he was once again named to the NBL First team.[6]

Return to America (2010)

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),[7] and then a 40 point, 8 rebound game against the Bakersfield Jam. He averaged 23.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 4 games, shooting 53% from 3-point land.

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.[8]

On 28 September 2010, Penney was signed by the San Antonio Spurs to compete for a roster spot. In his only game against the Houston Rockets he had 9 points in 14 minutes before being waived on 11 October.[9][10]

Return to Australian NBL (2010–2011)

On 26 October 2010 he returned to the New Zealand Breakers in the NBL.[11] Penney averaged 20.0 ppg, 4rpg, and 2.3 apg during the 2010–11 season, helping the Breakers win their first NBL championship. He was again named to the All-NBL First Team.[12]

Return to Europe (2011–present)

In July 2011, he signed with Baloncesto Fuenlabrada in Spain.[13] During the 2011–12 ACB season, Penney was the 5th leading points scorer with 14.4 points per game.[14]

In July 2012, he signed with TED Ankara Kolejliler in Turkey.[12] During the 2012-13 TBL season, Penney was the 3rd leading points scorer with 18.3 points per game, hitting over 46% of his 3-point shots. [14]

In August 2013, he signed with Trabzonspor, another team from Turkey.[15]

New Zealand National Team

Kirk Penney
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.[16]

Penney, now one of the most senior Tall Blacks, is 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.[17] 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.

In the 2010 World Championships in Turkey, Penney was the second leading scorer with 24.7 points/game. New Zealand also went through to the elimination rounds with a 3-2 record.

Personal life

Kirk Penney is the brother of Rodd Penney, who is also a professional sportsman, and has played Rugby Union in New Zealand, England and Italy.[18]

Awards and achievements

Individual achievements

  • 1998 New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) Rookie of the Year
  • 1999 New Zealand NBL Outstanding Kiwi Guard
  • 2002–03 First Team All-Big Ten
  • 2003–04 First Team All-Big Ten
  • 2003–04 Honorable Mention All-American
  • 2006–07 Baltic Basketball League All-Star (Lithuania)
  • 2007–08 Australasian NBL All-Star
  • 2007–08 All-NBL First Team
  • 2008–09 All-NBL First Team
  • 2008–09 Australasian NBL MVP
  • 2009–10 All-NBL First Team
  • 2010–11 All-NBL First Team
  • 2011 Boris Stankovic Cup MVP
  • 2011–12 Eurobasket Second Team All-Liga ACB (Spain)
  • 2011–12 Eurobasket All-Import Team Liga ACB (Spain)
  • 2012–13 TBL All-Star (Turkey)
  • 2012–13 TBL Three-Point Shootout champion (Turkey)
  • 2012–13 Eurobasket First Team TBL (Turkey)
  • 2012–13 Eurobasket All-Imports Team TBL (Turkey)

Team achievements

New Zealand National Team

References

  1. ↑ "Kirk Penney NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2011-12-18. 
  2. ↑ "Kirk Penney D-League Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. 1980-11-23. Retrieved 2011-12-18. 
  3. ↑ "Official Website of Alba Berlin". Albaberlin.de. 1980-11-23. Retrieved 2011-12-18. 
  4. ↑ "Official Website of the New Zealand Breakers". Nzbreakers.co.nz. Retrieved 2011-12-18. 
  5. ↑ "Kirk Penney wins 2008–09 ANBL MVP in tight race". Interbasket.net. 
  6. ↑ Nagy, Boti (22 January 2010). "Penney drops 49 as Sixers' season over". adelaidenow.com.au. Retrieved 11 May 2013. 
  7. ↑ Penney scores 31 for streaking Force
  8. ↑ "Kirk Penney NBA D-League career stats". NBA.com. Retrieved 11 May 2013. 
  9. ↑ Spurs Waive Kirk Penney
  10. ↑ Tall Black Kirk Penney released by NBA side
  11. ↑ "Basketball: Penney returns to Breakers". nzherald.co.nz. 26 October 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2013. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Kirk Penney signs to play in Turkish capital". Stuff.co.nz. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2013. 
  13. ↑ "Fuenlabrada tabs scoring machine Kirk Penney". Sportando.net. 29 July 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2013. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Kirk Penney yearns to be a Breaker again". Stuff.co.nz. 27 May 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2013. 
  15. ↑ Kiwi hoops star Penney on the move
  16. ↑ "Kirk Penney | Basketball New Zealand". Basketball.org.nz. Retrieved 2011-12-18. 
  17. ↑ "New Zealand wins 2009 Oceania Championship |". Interbasket.net. 2009-08-25. Retrieved 2011-12-18. 
  18. ↑ Nagy, Boti (2010-11-09). "Wedding bells take toll on Breakers". Adelaide Now. Retrieved 2011-12-18. 

External links

New Zealand squad – 2004 Summer Olympics – 10th place
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