Kirk Penney signs with Illawarra Hawks

Kirk Penney runs onto the court for the 2010 grand final series. Photo / Dean Purcell

The New Zealand Breakers will be up against a familiar face this season.

New Zealand basketball legend Kirk Penney has been unveiled as the new signing for the Illawarra Hawks today, making his ANBL return after four years away.

Penney spent five productive seasons with the Breakers from 2007-2011, making four all-ANBL first teams and being named MVP in 2009.

Now, after spending the past four years playing in Turkey and Spain, Penney is back down under to join an impressive Hawks unit which is set to include the likes of Rhys Martin, Kevin Lisch, Oscar Forman, A.J. Ogilvy and Tim Coenraad, with the potential to add another import to the mix.

With Breakers shooting guard Corey Webster evolving into one of the league's best scorers, there wasn't an easy - or monetary - fit for Penney with the New Zealand franchise, leaving him to look for other options.

He found one in the Hawks, who have reverted to their original name from their former Wollongong outfit after going into voluntary administration due to financial difficulties last season.

Penney should be able to provide his usual efficient scoring for the Hawks, although there are concerns about how he holds up defensively at age 34.

"To have Kirk join us at the Hawks is just incredible. To have the calibre of Kirk play for us is going to bring a lot of excitement to not only the Hawks but also the entire NBL," said Hawks head coach Rob Beveridge.

"Kirk has played all over the world and is the consummate professional."

Penney most recently played with Sevilla, where he averaged 11.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in the 2014-2015 Spanish season, shooting at an electric 43% from deep.