New Zealand Tall Black star Kirk Penney has been doing what he does best in the NBA Development League: score. The shooting guard, who has previously played for the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA, as well as in Europe and New Zealand, has made a fine start to his time with the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
He put up 12 points in 21 minutes in his first game with the Skyforce, before really letting loose in his second game, with 31 points (12/17 FG, 2/4 3PT, 5/8 FT), 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Both games were solid wins against the Springfield Armor. Penney is playing alongside former Cairns Taipans swingman Jared Newson and former Perth Wildcats diminutive point guard David Bailey. In another NBL-related twist, former Gold Coast Blaze import Justin Bowen was waived in order to accommodate Penney on the roster. And Bowen had earlier in the season been traded from the Austin Toros in exchange for fellow former Blaze player, Michael Joiner.
Penney also will be joined by Aussie Nathan Jawai who has been re-assigned to the Skyforce by the Minnesota Timberwolves in time for the NBA D-League playoffs.
“Jawai, looking considerably lighter than the last time he was here, took part in an intense and almost jovial practice at the Family Wellness Center less than an hour after arriving via airplane. The positive vibes were noticeable.
“He’s in a better situation,” Skyforce coach Tony Fritz said. “He knows some of the stuff we’re trying to do, he knows some of the guys and look at him – he’s lost 15-20 pounds. He looks great. He’s excited to be here and has brought a whole new life to us.”
As for how long he’ll be here, Jawai certainly will play in the final two games of the regular season at the Bakersfield Jam (17-31) on Friday and Saturday.
But he may stick around for the playoffs, too. Sioux Falls (30-18) and the Timberwolves will determine that Sunday.
At a minimum, he’s a fresh – and still big – body in the paint at a time when the team could use one.”
