timvp
12-27-2004, 03:55 AM
Penney gets NBA call-up
Dec 27, 2004
By Dana Johannsen
Tall Black shooting guard Kirk Penney has received another shot at cementing his spot in the NBA having signed with the LA Clippers after some impressive performances in the development league.
Penney has been playing for the Asheville Altitude in the National Basketball Development League (NBDL), which is considered the feeding pool for the major league. There Penney averaged 9.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 12 games for the Altitude this season.
The 23-year-old will suit up for the Clippers in their next match against the Houston Rockets on Monday.
The Clippers made a strong start to the season in NBA's western conference, but a bad run with injuries has seen the Los Angeles side slip just out of play-off contention at this early stage of the season.
Penney's call-up to the major league will come as a welcome relief to the former University of Wisconsin standout after visa problems effectively snuffed out any chance of starting the season in the NBA.
Penney had received interest from several NBA clubs and was training with the Golden State Warriors in the pre-season before he was "blindsided" with issues with his visa. The 1.98m tall New Zealander missed out on NBA opening day rosters when it was found his visa was expired.
With Penney desperate to find an employer in the US and keep his NBA dream alive, he opted to put himself in the NBDL draft. The Kiwi was quickly snapped up by Asheville in the first round of the draft, with the sixth pick overall.
It proved to be a good move for Penney, whose strong performances in the league have enabled him to fight his way back in to the major league.
Penney became just the second New Zealander in the NBA last year when he was called up briefly for the injury-ravaged Miami Heat last season.
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/sport_story_skin/466324%3fformat=html
Dec 27, 2004
By Dana Johannsen
Tall Black shooting guard Kirk Penney has received another shot at cementing his spot in the NBA having signed with the LA Clippers after some impressive performances in the development league.
Penney has been playing for the Asheville Altitude in the National Basketball Development League (NBDL), which is considered the feeding pool for the major league. There Penney averaged 9.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 12 games for the Altitude this season.
The 23-year-old will suit up for the Clippers in their next match against the Houston Rockets on Monday.
The Clippers made a strong start to the season in NBA's western conference, but a bad run with injuries has seen the Los Angeles side slip just out of play-off contention at this early stage of the season.
Penney's call-up to the major league will come as a welcome relief to the former University of Wisconsin standout after visa problems effectively snuffed out any chance of starting the season in the NBA.
Penney had received interest from several NBA clubs and was training with the Golden State Warriors in the pre-season before he was "blindsided" with issues with his visa. The 1.98m tall New Zealander missed out on NBA opening day rosters when it was found his visa was expired.
With Penney desperate to find an employer in the US and keep his NBA dream alive, he opted to put himself in the NBDL draft. The Kiwi was quickly snapped up by Asheville in the first round of the draft, with the sixth pick overall.
It proved to be a good move for Penney, whose strong performances in the league have enabled him to fight his way back in to the major league.
Penney became just the second New Zealander in the NBA last year when he was called up briefly for the injury-ravaged Miami Heat last season.
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/sport_story_skin/466324%3fformat=html