Share this 11/01/2016 News Penney fuels talk of Tall Blacks return with terrific campaign

While such a label is normally reserved for those who have stopped playing the game, its usage serves to highlight just how highly regarded Penney is in basketball circles in New Zealand.

Penney, the Tall Black that reached the Semi-Finals of the 2002 FIBA Basketball World Cup, the four-time All-NBL First Team selection while a player with the New Zealand Breakers, has still go it.

When Penney played at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Bilbao and Barcelona two years ago, some thought it was going to be his swan song in a Tall Blacks jersey.

Before a recent game against his old New Zealand Breakers team, he said: “I understand everyone says ‘wow, he’s so old, what kind of Weetabix is he eating?’ New Zealand will play at one of the six-team FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs), the winners of which will advance to the Rio de Janeiro Games.

Were he to play for New Zealand, he would be the oldest player in the side.

Penney has not ruled out a return to the Tall Blacks, and the Tall Blacks haven’t ruled him out, either.

Penney’s level of play is only going to fuel talk of his possible return to the national team for the OQT.