Basketball: Penney making progress

Kirk Penney is aiming to play in next week’s game against the Adelaide 36ers. Brett Phibbs

New Zealand Breakers shooting guard Kirk Penney is recovering well from an early season back injury, but remains an unlikely starter for Thursday's Australian National Basketball League match against the Townsville Crocodiles in Auckland.

Penney is recovering from the injury suffered a fortnight ago, when the Tall Black shooting guard tore two annular disc to his lower back.

That recovery is expected to take four weeks but Penney trained yesterday, shooting hoops and moving with a little more freedom, and said he is a little ahead of schedule.

"I'm feeling great, a little better every day and with every workout, but we can't afford to rush this," Penney said.

"The irony is I am most comfortable when on court, moving and shooting. The trouble starts when I try to sit down or bend at the waist, that still brings on some pain and my movement is restricted."

Penney said it was hard to put a timeline on his recovery, but he was aiming for next week's game against the Adelaide 36ers.

- NZPA