Basketball New Zealand

Early MVP favourite Kirk Penney earned his second ANBL Player of the Week honour in round eight (Photosport)

Kirk Penney has picked up his second Player of the Week honour of the 2008-09 Australian National Basketball League season after the NZ Breakers star was named as the Round Eight award winner.

Penney, who also took out the NBL’s weekly honours in Round One and is an early favourite for League Most Valuable Player honours, led his team to a 1-1 record for the week.

The former NBA player averaged 24.5 points per game, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in his two games – an upset 86-84 road victory against reigning champions, the Melbourne Tigers, and a tough 96-86 loss at home to Adelaide.

On Thursday night against the 36ers at the North Shore Events Centre, Penney took the floor for an undermanned Breakers side that was without his backcourt partner, CJ Bruton, due to back spasms. Penney stepped up to carry the team with a double-double consisting of 24 points and ten rebounds and also kicked in six assist, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a fired-up Adelaide side.

Penney went on to guide his team to a thrilling triumph against one of the toughest teams in the league, the Melbourne Tigers, at the State Netball Hockey Centre on Saturday night. Penney scored a game high 25 points, also adding four rebounds.

The Tall Blacks star was typically modest when told he had been named Player of the Week.

“This is a great honour to be named Player of the Week for the second time this season and I am humbled by the news,” said Penney.

“Anyone who has watched the Breakers play this year knows it is the end result of some great work by the entire roster during a tough week for the club. To bounce back from our loss against the 36ers and win on the road in Melbourne showed the great character in this Breakers side, as well as the obvious talent.”

“We have some great leaders in our team and with CJ returning from injury on Saturday night, ‘the Bear’ (Tony Ronaldson) being recognized for his incredible playing record in the past week and the likes of Dillon Boucher and Pauli Henare being strong influences on and off the court, we are fighting every step of the way.

“My job is simple, stay within the system and take my shots when open. That can often mean I am on the end of some great work by the other guys on the floor.”

Gold Coast’s new import, Justin Bowen, made a big impression in his NBL debut and was amongst those considered for the weekly award. The 201cm small forward from Chicago had a game-high 26 points, as well as eight rebounds, three assists and one steal for the Blaze against ladder-leaders, the South Dragons, on Saturday in his team’s 95-83 loss.

Others in consideration for Player of the Week included Adam Ballinger (Adelaide), Mark Tyndale (Adelaide), Rosell Ellis (Townsville), Chris Anstey (Melbourne), Shane Heal (Gold Coast), Shawn Redhage (Perth), Mark Worthington (South), Ian Crosswhite (Cairns), Aaron Grabau (Cairns), and Julian Khazzouh (Sydney)

NBL Championship Player of the Week 2008-09

Round 1 – Kirk Penney (New Zealand)
Round 2 – Corey Williams (Townsville)
Round 3 – Mark Worthington (South)
Round 4 – Darnell Mee (Cairns)
Round 5 – Joe Ingles (South)
Round 6 – Luke Schenscher (Adelaide)
Round 7 – Sam Mackinnon (Melbourne)
Round 8 – Kirk Penney (New Zealand)