KEY POINTS:
A year-long courtship has finally paid dividends for the New Zealand Breakers with Tall Blacks guard Kirk Penney confirming his homecoming by signing for the 2007-08 Australian National Basketball League season.
The Breakers had a deal on the table for the New Zealand international for more than a year and were delighted to add him to their roster for their next campaign.
Penney, the second New Zealander to play in the NBA after trailblazer Sean Marks, has been based in the United States and Europe for the past eight years.
His signing compensates for the sudden retirement of former Tall Blacks teammate -- and foundation Breaker Aaron Olson -- while Penney's imminent arrival also tempers the disappointment of missing out on Wellington-born centre Craig Bradshaw.
Reigning ANBL champions the Brisbane Bullets won the race to his signature earlier this week.
The well-travelled Penney recently ended his stint with German club Alba Berlin.
Penney carved a solid pro career since leaving the University of Wisconsin in 2002, the highlight being brief stints with the Miami Heat and LA Clippers.
He has also served time in the NBA development league and on several leading clubs in Spain, Israel and Lithuania.
"I've lived overseas for eight years and it would be nice to spend some time at home. I'm looking very seriously at it," he said.
The Breakers still have to fill their two roster spots for imported players.
- NZPA
