BIO: Kirk Samuel Penney was born in Auckland (New Zealand).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Kirk Penney made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 26 years of age. He scored 23 points in his first game.

In 2007, the New Zealand Breakers secured a major signing with the addition of Tall Blacks star Kirk Penney, who returned home after nearly a decade playing in the United States and Europe. The Breakers had pursued Penney for over a year, and after prolonged negotiations, the club finally landed the highly sought-after guard for the 2007-08 NBL season. His arrival was a significant moment for the franchise, particularly as he was in his prime and eager to help turn the team’s fortunes around. His signing helped offset the loss of Carlos Powell and the sudden retirement of Aaron Olson, a former Tall Blacks teammate and foundation Breaker.

Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis emphasized the significance of the acquisition, noting that Penney was one of only two New Zealand-born players to ever play in the NBA and had proven his ability to compete at the highest level, both in the NBA and the highly competitive European leagues. “He’s determined to help the Breakers make a major impact in the NBL, and the fact that he’s coming now, when he’s in his prime, is exciting,” Lemanis said. Having played with clubs in Spain, Israel, Lithuania, and Germany, most recently with Alba Berlin, Penney had developed into a top-tier international talent. His return to New Zealand was unexpected, but he expressed his excitement about the opportunity to help shape the Breakers’ future. “A year ago I never thought I’d take this path, but I have a gut feeling about things. It’s the right time to re-connect with home,” Penney said upon signing.

Penney officially joined the Breakers following the conclusion of the Tall Blacks’ international commitments and made his debut in the team’s NBL opener against the Cairns Taipans on September 20. Alongside fellow Tall Blacks Phill Jones (14.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists) and Paora Winitana (3.0 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 0.5 assists), Penney (24.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 steals) became a focal point of the Breakers’ attack. Oscar Forman (9.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists), after an impressive debut season with the club, was re-signed on a three-year deal, solidifying his role as one of their key scorers. Imports Rick Rickert and Wayne Turner were also added to provide depth in the frontcourt.

New Zealand’s season opened with a narrow 90–95 loss to Cairns, despite a standout performance from Forman (20 points) and a strong debut from Rickert (19 points and 12 rebounds). The following game marked the highly anticipated first appearance of Penney, who immediately led the team in scoring with 23 points and seven rebounds, though the Breakers fell short against West Sydney (96–104).

As the season progressed, the Breakers faced setbacks with season-ending injuries to both Rickert and Turner. However, mid-season replacements Derrick Alston and Orien Greene provided the necessary reinforcement to keep the team competitive. Behind Penney’s elite scoring ability, New Zealand secured its first-ever NBL playoff berth with a 16–14 record. Penney’s impact was undeniable, and his performances earned him a spot on the All-NBL First Team.

In their first playoff appearance, the Breakers dominated Cairns at home with a commanding 100–78 victory. However, they were unable to advance further, suffering a tough loss against the defending champion Brisbane Bullets in the qualifying finals. Penney delivered his best performance of the season in a dominant 126–93 win over the Gold Coast Blaze, where he exploded for 32 points, six rebounds, and three assists, showcasing the offensive firepower that made him one of the NBL’s premier players.

2008/09
After the Brisbane Bullets withdrew from the league due to financial difficulties, New Zealand Breakers head coach Andrej Lemanis seized the opportunity to strengthen his squad. He secured free agent duo CJ Bruton (two-year deal) and former Breaker Dillon Boucher (three-year deal), with the clear objective of pushing the team toward a championship.

“The Breakers have proved they’re a playoff team, and I’d like to help take them up to that next level,” Bruton said upon signing with New Zealand.

“I’ve seen the Breakers change their team and their culture to become more competitive. They’re serious about becoming number one, and I want to be a part of New Zealand’s first championship. You don’t play this sport just to be in it.”

The new additions joined an already talented core featuring Paul Henare, Kirk Penney, Phill Jones, Oscar Forman, Tony Ronaldson, and Tim Behrendorff. The roster was later completed with the signing of import big man Rick Rickert.

Bruton’s arrival provided the Breakers with much-needed stability and leadership at the point guard position, an area where they had previously lacked consistency. However, it was Kirk Penney who emerged as the team’s offensive powerhouse. Penney (24.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists) led the league in scoring and was named to the All-NBL First Team. His stellar season was capped by becoming the first New Zealand-born player to win the NBL MVP award, solidifying his place as one of the league’s most dominant offensive threats. Meanwhile, Phill Jones was recognized for his contributions off the bench, earning the league’s Sixth Man of the Year honor.

New Zealand looked like genuine championship contenders for most of the season, holding a league-best 15-4 record with 14 games remaining. However, in late December, Bruton suffered a high-ankle sprain, which significantly disrupted the team’s momentum. The Breakers struggled in January, losing eight of their next nine games, forcing Penney to carry an even greater load offensively.

Despite their midseason slump, the Breakers rebounded with a crucial victory in their final regular-season game to finish with an 18–12 record. This secured the franchise’s first-ever home playoff game, where they dismantled Adelaide (131–101) in an elimination final. Their postseason run continued with a best-of-three semi-final series against defending champions Melbourne, but despite Penney’s efforts, the Breakers were swept 2–0, ending their season just short of the grand final.

2010/11
New Zealand’s championship-winning season was fueled by the return of both Kevin Braswell and Mika Vukona. Braswell initially committed to playing in Turkey with Aliağa Belediyesi SK but departed before the season began to rejoin the Breakers for a second campaign. Vukona, who had previously won an NBL title with the South Dragons in 2009, also returned and was named team captain, replacing Paul Henare. In another key move, the Breakers parted ways with import Rick Rickert, opting instead for former Utah State standout Gary Wilkinson.

The season began without star player Kirk Penney, who was attempting to secure an NBA contract. After failing to land a roster spot, he rejoined the Breakers a month into the season. Despite his absence, the team made a strong start, winning their first five games before suffering a heavy 114–74 defeat to Perth.

Penney (20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists) returned to lead the team in scoring, proving instrumental in the Breakers securing the NBL’s best regular-season record at 22–6. Wilkinson (15.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists) added offensive firepower in the frontcourt, while CJ Bruton (11.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) and Thomas Abercrombie (10.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists) provided additional scoring options. Vukona (8.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists) anchored the team with his defensive intensity, and Braswell (10.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists) played a key role off the bench, earning NBL Best Sixth Man honors.

Corey Webster (4.0 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists) emerged as a rising talent this season, earning more playing time and beginning to challenge veteran Bruton for minutes. Bruton’s reduced role, playing seven minutes less per game than the previous season, reflected the Breakers’ deeper and more balanced roster.

New Zealand faced fourth-seeded Perth in the semifinals and suffered a setback in Game 1, losing at home. However, the Breakers responded by winning Games 2 and 3 in New Zealand, securing their first-ever trip to the NBL Grand Final.

In the championship series, the Breakers dominated Cairns in Game 1 with an 85–67 victory, at one point leading by as many as 31 points. Game 2 in Cairns was a dramatic battle, tied at the end of regulation (60–60) and again after the first overtime period (73–73). Cairns ultimately prevailed 85–81, forcing a decisive Game 3.

With the series returning to New Zealand, the Breakers delivered a dominant performance in front of their home crowd, winning 71–53 to become the first non-Australian team to claim an NBL championship. Abercrombie was named Grand Final MVP, while Bruton cemented his legacy with two crucial three-pointers in the fourth quarter to seal the title against Cairns, securing his fourth NBL championship.

ILLAWARRA HAWKS
2015/16
Following long-time coach Gordie McLeod’s departure, Rob Beveridge was signed as head coach for the 2015/16 season. He made big moves coming into his first season, inking the trio of AJ Ogilvy, Kirk Penney, and Kevin Lisch, who had all been playing in Europe the previous season.

The trio were dubbed ‘the three-headed monster’, but a knee injury to Lisch in the Hawks opening game of the season saw the trio play limited games together during the first month of the season.

Lisch returned to action with a 15 point and 7 rebound effort in a loss to his former team, the Perth Wildcats (106–99). In January, Lisch was named NBL Player of the Month for December after leading the Hawks to five wins in six games and averaging 22.7 points, 4.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game throughout the month. This included a career-high 40 points in a double-overtime win over New Zealand (103–96) in Auckland. Four days later, he played his 150th NBL game in a loss to the Wildcats in Perth.

Penney would lead the team in scoring, appearing in 27 games, and averaging 20.4 points, 3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists as Illawarra finished in third place (17–11). This set up a semi finals series against second-seed Perth, where during the first quarter, Illawarra suffered a major blow to their playoff hopes. Lisch suffered a ankle injury late in the first quarter before returning to the bench in the second half in a moon boot and on crutches. The injury ruled Lisch out of Game 2, but the Hawks managed to rally at home to even the series. He recovered in time to face the Wildcats in game three however, despite Lisch’s return, the Hawks were defeated (89–74) and eliminated from the playoffs.

Penney was named to the All-NBL second team while both Ogilvy (16.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) and Lisch (19.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.8 steals) were selected to the All-NBL First Team. Lisch also took home the Best Defensive Player award as well as winning the NBL MVP for the second time, making Lisch only the second player in NBL history to win the award with two different team’s.

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
2016/17
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 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.

Despite winning their last two games of the season, they fell short of a playoff spot, finishing in fifth place (14–14).

2017/18
After a injury decimated season, New Zealand looked to rebuild in Paul Henare’s second year as coach. Kevin Dillard, who joined the team for the last nine games, was retained and it was hoped that the on court success witnessed during the last month of the season would be able to be extended across NBL18. The major move of the off-season saw the Breakers cut ties with Corey Webster after multiple situations where the two parties no longer saw eye to eye. This led to Webster first signing a two-year deal with Perth, then after turning the heads of some European team’s whilst playing in the 2017 NBA Summer League, requested a release prior to the NBL season starting. The remainder of the roster was retained and with league expanding the number of import a team can sign from two to three, added backcourt duo DJ Newbill and Édgar Sosa.

New Zealand then started the season in hot form, going 6–1 after five rounds thanks to the selflessness of Newbill (13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.3 steals) and Sosa (15.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. Back-up guard Shea Ili (9.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists) also posted impressive numbers, becoming a vital piece of the team’s second unit and claimed the NBL’s Most Improved Player at the end of the season.

With a win over the Perth Wildcats on 9 November, the Breakers moved to a 7–1 record, tying their best start in franchise history. They went on to defeat Perth again three days later, moving them to a 8–1 record. They moved to 9–1 with a win over Brisbane on 19 November, as they headed into the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification break atop the NBL ladder and on a nine-game winning streak.

After returning from the FIBA break, the Breakers lost four out of their first five games and dropped to 10–5 following Round 10. With Dillard (18.1 points, 4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.6 steals) injured, they chose to bring in NBA player Rakeem Christmas (7.6 points and 5.7 rebounds) in early January to bolster their squad.

Despite finishing the regular season with back-to-back losses, New Zealand finished in fourth place (15–13) and went on to face Melbourne and former coach Dean Vickerman in the semifinals. United handed the Breakers back-to-back defeats in the semifinals, following a overtime loss in Game 2 (88–86). Club legend Kirk Penney played (10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists) his final NBL game in the game two loss, finishing with a 17-point effort.

Kirk Penney played seven seasons in the NBL. He averaged 20.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 187 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (838 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.