@kirkpenney “Signed to play in Ankara, Turkey”

Former NBL MVP and New Zealand Breakers star Kirk Penny announced via Twitter today that he has signed with Turkish club Ankara Kolejliler after severing ties with his Spanish club Baloncesto Fuenlabrada.

Penney joins a team on a high in the Turkish capital as Ankara Kolejliler earned promotion to the top league in Turkey, after winning the TBL-2 this past season with a 20-2 record.

Penney played last season with Fuenlabrada in the Spanish ACB where Australian Boomer Joe Ingles won the Spanish League title last month. He appeared in 28 games and averaged 14.4 points and 2.2 rebounds. Penney finished fifth in scoring in the ACB despite his team finishing 16th in the 18 team competition.

Penney also represented Fuenlabrada in EuroChallenge competition, the league formerly known as the FIBA EuroCup where Chris Anstey won a Championship with UNICS Kazan in 2004. He averaged 12.4 ppg and 1.4 rpg in 14 games of EuroChallenge play.

Kirk Penney played for the New Zealand Breakers from 2007-2011 and has career averages of 22.9ppg, 4.5rpg and 2.6apg in the NBL. Penney was both the NBL leading scorer and MVP in 2009 and still holds the record for highest single game scoring effort in the NBL (since it moved to 40 minute games) by scoring 49 pts in 35 mins in 2010 against the Adelaide 36ers.

Kirk Penney scorches the 36ers for 49 pts in 35 mins

Penney played college ball at Wisconsin before two short stints in the NBA for the Miami Heat (2003) and LA Clippers (2004). Today he is widely considered as one of the best players outside of the NBA.

Penney confirmed last month the NBA was “off the radar” these days and although he yearns to return to the NBL and play for his home team the New Zealand Breakers he feels that is still a year or so away.

Penney was who has unable to play for the New Zealand National team this year due to a calf injury he sustained during his season in the ACB.

Ankara Kolejliler kirk penny nba new zealand breakers Spain turkey

Which NBL Teams Spent the Most?

Over the past three NBL seasons, clubs have spent almost $97 million assembling their rosters, but how much of that money has translated into wins, and which teams have delivered the best value for money? These figures represent cash spend, not salary cap spend. Cash spending includes player salaries and additional costs such as agent fees, bonuses, import related expenses and luxury tax, rather than simply the amounts counted against the league's salary cap. How much have NBL teams spent over the past three seasons?…

ARE THE HAWKS “TIRED” OF TATUM’S VOICE?

Larry Bird believed players began tuning out coaches after three years. Pat Riley reportedly put the limit at five, while Steve Kerr admitted his Golden State players were tired of hearing him in his fourth season. Now Justin Tatum is in his fourth season with Illawarra, and the Hawks have gone from NBL champions to the bottom of the ladder. Could they be experiencing the same problem? Justin Tatum transformed Illawarra from one of the NBL's worst teams into champions. But ahead of today's clash…

COULD BRIAN GOORJIAN HAVE SAVED THE MELBOURNE TIGERS?

In 2002, the Melbourne Tigers were fighting for survival when they identified an opportunity to attract supporters from their biggest rivals. Their plan to honour Brian Goorjian was blocked by the Victoria Giants, potentially changing the course of Melbourne basketball history. In 2002, the Melbourne Tigers devised a plan that could have changed the future of their club. The Tigers were emerging from financial administration, crowds were falling and the club had been forced to abandon its home at Vodafone Arena, now known as John…

Kirk Penney to play in Turkey

Kirk Penney scorches the 36ers for 49 pts in 35 mins