DJ Newbill
February 2, 2021
Kevin Dillard
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 15/10/89
- Place of Birth: Homewood, Illinois (USA)
- Position: PG
- Height (CM): 183
- Weight (KG): 83
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Southern Illinois (2008–2010) Dayton (2011–2013)
- NBL DEBUT: 8/01/17
- AGE AT DEBUT: 27
- LAST NBL GAME: 28/10/17
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 28
- NBL History: New Zealand 2017
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Kevin Dillard was born in Homewood, Illinois (USA) and attended and played high school basketball Homewood-Flossmoor High School, in Flossmoor, Illinois, where he was named the 2008 Illinois Mr. Basketball. After graduating from Homewood-Flossmoor High, Dillard played two years of college basketball for Southern Illinois University.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Kevin Dillard made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 27 years of age. He scored 18 points in his first game.
Following the Breakers’ 2016 grand final loss, chief executive Richard Clarke and coach Dean Vickerman parted ways with the organisation, with Paul Henare stepping up from assistant to take the reins as head coach, while Dillon Boucher took control of the front office as general manager.
Joining Dean Vickerman in departure was Cedric Jackson and Tai Wesley, both of whom moved across the Tasman and joined Melbourne United. While retaining Thomas Abercrombie, Corey Webster, Alex Pledger and Mika Vukona, the Breakers acquired the services of club legend Kirk Penney. With two vacant import spots, the Breakers signed Ben Woodside and Akil Mitchell. A strong New Zealand contingent also stepped up from development player roles this season, with Finn Delany, Shea Ili and Jordan Ngatai all being elevated onto the full-time roster.
An injury filled pre-season saw Shea Ili (back), Penney (calf) and Webster (hip and back) suffer injuries that would see them miss multiple games during the first half of the season. Even when Webster did return mid-season, he was never fully recovered and his production dropped from 19.6 ppg to 11.7 ppg as he battled to shake off a prolonged hip injury. After 20 games New Zealand had a total of eight wins and the ‘injury bug’ only got worse. Abercrombie (11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists) and Woodside (8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.3 steals) both spent time missed games due to injury and then in January, during a loss to Cairns (81-94), Mitchell (9.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists) suffered a poke to the eye from Taipans centre Nnanna Egwu which caused his left eyeball to come out of its socket. He was rushed to hospital and although his vision was restored that night, he returned to the US to seek further specialist advice.
Webster made a valiant second return to the court before the end of the season, but under medical advisement, it was felt his injuries were too serious and he was shut down for the remainder of the season. New Zealand added import forward Paul Carter (9.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists) and shortly replaced a underperforming Woodside with David Stockton, the son of NBA Hall of Famer John Stockton. Stockton (8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists) lasted only 10 games before he too succumbed to injury and was replaced by another import, Kevin Dillard.
The combo of Dillard (18.1 points, 4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.6 steals) and Penney (17.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) helped salvage the remainder of the Breakers’ season. The duo propelled New Zealand to a four game winning streak and revived the Breakers playoff hopes, but after back-to-back losses in round 17, they dropped to fifth place (14–14) and their playoff hopes were shattered.
Kevin Dillard played one season in the NBL. He averaged 18.1 points, 4 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 9 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-17 | 27 | New Zealand | 14-14 (5) | 9 | 279.4 | 163 | 36 | 43 | 4 | 32 | 14 | 2 | 36 | 27 | 56 | 131 | 43% | 21 | 55 | 38% | 30 | 35 | 86% | 55% | 51% | 28 | Totals | 9 | 279 | 163 | 36 | 43 | 4 | 32 | 14 | 2 | 36 | 27 | 56 | 131 | 42.7% | 21 | 55 | 38.2% | 30 | 35 | 85.7% | 56% | 51% | 28 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-17 | 27 | New Zealand | 14-14 (5) | 9 | 31.0 | 18.1 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 0.4 | 3.6 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 6.2 | 14.6 | 43% | 2.3 | 6.1 | 38% | 3.3 | 3.9 | 86% | 55% | 51% | 28 | Total | 9 | 31.0 | 18.1 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 0.4 | 3.6 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 6.2 | 14.6 | 42.7% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 38.2% | 2.3 | 6.1 | 85.7% | 56% | 51% | 28 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 28 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
|---|
COLLEGE
After the 2009/10 season, Dillard transferred to Dayton.
He had to sit out one season under NCAA rules.
He was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Second Team, as a junior and senior.
Related
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