Basketball: Penney cleared for Breakers

Kirk Penney returns for the Breakers this weekend. Photo / Getty Images

Kirk Penney has been officially welcomed back into the New Zealand Breakers' fold and will play in Saturday's Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) match against the Gold Coast Blaze.

Star shooter Penney has completed the necessary ANBL paperwork and received clearance from the San Antonio Spurs, having failed to win a place on the Spurs roster following a trial with the United States NBA giants.

Penney's clearance to rejoin the squad is timely as Leon Henry, the player who came onto the Breakers roster to replace Penney when he left for the US, is battling a right heel injury.

Breakers general manager Richard Clarke said Penney returned to training on Saturday and has spent time learning changes to both the offence and defence that the team are running this season.

"Kirk has fitted straight back in, as expected," Clarke said.

"There are a few things he is working to pick up, things that Andrej has changed up this season, so Kirk is working hard on those. It is good to have him back in the group, he is hungry to get back on court and play with the guys again."

Clarke said Henry had battled his injury over the last week.

"He has pushed to play through it but the medical team have advised he needs to have some rehab work to get it right.

"It is a heel injury that won't get better without resting, so we have placed him on injury waiver to let him get it right."

Meanwhile, BJ Anthony continues to make good progress in his recovery from an ankle injury sustained 10 days ago and is likely to be fit for the Breakers next home game, against Wollongong on November 19.

"The physio is happy with BJ's progress, the injury wasn't as serious as first thought and he is improving quickly. We won't rush anything, but he is itching to get back on court so should come back into trainings in the next couple of weeks," Clarke said.

- NZPA