New Zealand Breakers and national team lynchpin Kirk Penney will join the NBA's San Antonio Spurs for it's three week training camp. The shooting guard has been rewarded for his key performances at the FIBA World Championships in Turkey earlier this month with an opportunity to push for a place in the squad. Penney (29) joins six other non-contracted members at the camp which will be cut to three by the end. Penney was just the second New Zealand native to play in the NBA after Sean Marks (Washington Wizards) when he suited up for both Miami
and the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2003-04 seasons.
and the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2003-04 seasons. 
His contract, along with a handful of others at the New Zealand Breakers, has a clause for NBA exemption if it was to arise.
Penney averaged 25 points per game at the World Champs.
He leaves for the US today.
More basketball reading here.
on October 30th. But it will be bitter sweet for Graham Henry as he tries to assemble a 30 man squad for the tour because it will mean some deserving players will be left behind. The log jam seems to be in the backs where only fourteen players will be picked meaning quality players, especially mid-fielders and outside backs, will be left behind. Who do you take in the mid-field out of (aside from incumbents Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith) Luke McAlister, Robert Fruean, Sonny Bill Williams, Isaia Toeava, Benson Stanley, Ben Smith, Rene Ranger, and even, dare I say it, Tana Umaga? Thats 10 deserving players at least. And what about outside backs? Mils Muliaina, Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Joe Rokocoko, Sitivini Sivivatu, Hosea Gear, Zac Guildford, Ranger, and Smith. Will Henry increase the squad numbers? He might just so as to give his conscience a rest. 
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