DJ Newbill
February 2, 2021
Kevin Dillard
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 31930
- 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: 42734
- AGE AT DEBUT: 29
- LAST NBL GAME: 42776
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 29
- NBL History: New Zealand 2017
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Kevin Dillard was born in Homewood, Illinois (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Kevin Dillard made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 29 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% | 0.5566939891 | 0.5076335878 | 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 | 6.222222222 | 14.55555556 | 42.7% | 0.04749787956 | 0.04749787956 | 38.2% | 2.333333333 | 6.111111111 | 85.7% | 0.5566939891 | 0.5076335878 | 28 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 28 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
|---|
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Belgium - Antwerp Giants (2016) | France - Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez (2014–2015), Cholet (2015–2016) | Greece - Apollon Patras (2015–2016), PAOK (2017–2018) | Hungary - EGIS Körmend (2018), Soproni KC (2020–2021) | Israel - Maccabi Ashdod (2017) | Italy - Junior Casale (2013–2014) | Latvia - VEF Rīga (2014–2015) | North Macedonia - KK Gostivar (2022) | Romania - Dinamo București (2021) | Turkey - Pınar Karşıyaka (2016–2017), Sigortam.net İTÜ BB (2019–2020)
Kevin Dillard joined Junior Casale for the 2013–2014 Serie A2 season, playing his first season in Italy after signing on 7 August 2013.
In 2013–14 with Junior Casale, Dillard played 29 games and averaged 15.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, shooting 43.1% from the field, 35.2% on three-pointers, and 77.9% at the free throw line.
Dillard moved to VEF Rīga for the 2014–2015 season in Latvia, signing on 4 July 2014, and he appeared in four EuroLeague games with the club before parting ways on 8 November 2014.
He signed with Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez on 8 December 2014 and finished the 2014–2015 season in France’s top division, playing 23 league games and averaging 11.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 47.9% from the field, 34.1% from three-point range, and 78.9% at the free throw line.
Dillard returned to France with Cholet in 2015–2016, then moved mid-season to Greece with Apollon Patras on 25 November 2015 before finishing the 2015–2016 season in Belgium after signing with Antwerp Giants on 2 April 2016.
He joined Pınar Karşıyaka for the 2016–2017 season in Turkey after signing on 27 July 2016, then later played in Israel with Maccabi Ashdod in 2017 after signing on 22 February 2017, before returning to Greece to start 2017–2018 with PAOK Thessaloniki after signing on 8 July 2017.
After leaving PAOK on 4 November 2017, Dillard continued his European career with EGIS Körmend in Hungary from January 2018, later returning to Turkey with Sigortam.net İTÜ BB for 2019–2020 where he averaged 10.0 points and 5.6 assists per game, then moving back to Hungary with Soproni KC for 2020–2021, appearing in Romania for Dinamo București in 2021, and signing with KK Gostivar in North Macedonia on 27 February 2022.
COLLEGE
Kevin Dillard played college basketball at Southern Illinois during the 2008–09 and 2009–10 seasons before transferring to Dayton, where he competed from 2011 to 2013.
Dillard began his collegiate career with Southern Illinois in the 2008–09 season, appearing in 30 games as a freshman and starting 10 contests. He averaged 9.2 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.6 rebounds per game while shooting 41.4% from the field, 34.8% from three-point range, and 77.8% at the free-throw line. He recorded 20 double-figure scoring games, including a season-high 22 points against Missouri State, and finished the year with 91 assists against 68 turnovers.
As a sophomore in 2009–10, Dillard elevated his production significantly, starting 31 of 32 games and averaging 15.2 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game. He shot 42.0% from the field, 38.7% from beyond the arc, and 82.3% from the free-throw line. He posted 24 double-digit scoring performances and six 20-point games, including a 27-point outing against Illinois State. He finished the season with 134 assists and 74 made three-pointers. After the 2009/10 season, Dillard transferred to Dayton.
He had to sit out one season under NCAA rules.
Dillard became eligible for Dayton in the 2011–12 season and made an immediate impact, starting all 32 games as a junior. He averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game while shooting 41.7% from the field, 34.0% from three-point range, and 79.2% from the free-throw line. He recorded 163 assists on the year, ranking among the Atlantic 10 leaders, and scored in double figures 21 times. His performance earned him All-Atlantic 10 Second Team honors as a junior.
In his senior season in 2012–13, Dillard started 30 of 31 games and averaged 18.7 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 46.4% from the field, 37.6% from three, and 83.3% at the free-throw line. He led the Atlantic 10 in scoring and free throws made (180), recorded 17 games of 20 or more points, and surpassed the 30-point mark twice, including a 36-point performance against New Mexico in the NCAA Tournament. He finished his Dayton career with 1,018 points in two active seasons and was again named to the All-Atlantic 10 Second Team as a senior.
Across his four collegiate seasons between Southern Illinois and Dayton, Dillard appeared in 125 games, totaling over 1,900 career points and more than 450 assists, establishing himself as one of the Atlantic 10’s most productive guards during his tenure.
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