Kirk Penney is a New Zealand
professional basketball player who currently
plays for Trabzonspor Basketball of the
Turkish Basketball League.
He played college basketball in the United
States at the University of
Wisconsin–Madison from 1999 through 2003.
Penney became the second New Zealander
(after Sean Marks) to play in the NBA.
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.
After building his career in the US
and in Europe he returned to New
Zealand in 2007, signing with the
New Zealand Breakers. 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. On 21 January
2010, Penney scored a career-high 49
points in a 103–89 win over the
Adelaide 36ers in Auckland. In 2011
Kirk helped the Breakers to their
first ANBL title, then left the club
to further his career in Europe
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).