Cairns retain NZNBL Champion Jarrod Kenny

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans announce they have retained newly crowned NZNBL Champion and Best Defensive Player Jarrod Kenny for the upcoming 2020-21 NBL season, his third consecutive year with the club.

Kenny is one of the few NBL players that had the opportunity to play during the winter months, incredibly suiting up for his 19^th season in the NZNBL and averaging 11.2 points, 5.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds for the Otago Nuggets.

As one of the only basketball competitions running during the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, the NZNBL garnered global attention and was broadcast internationally on ESPN – with Kenny keeping Otago at the top of the table for the majority of their campaign and earning the league’s Best Defensive Player Award.

His efforts came off the back of an exciting semi-finals run for Cairns, with Head Coach Mike Kelly recognising “JK” as an integral part of his team.   

“JK is the whole package, and he’s been huge for the Taipans in his two years here. He’s such a selfless player and has been so important for us in those clutch moments,” said Kelly.

“JK runs the team, shoots the ball consistently, and digs in on defence. He also helps create such great culture within the group. He’s got a special style of leadership that the team really responds to.”

Kenny’s recent NZNBL Championship adds to his accolades which includes two NBL Championships with the Wildcats, a Bronze Medal from the 2018 Commonwealth Games with the Tall Blacks and two FIBA World Cup appearances.

The 34-year old has suited up for the New Zealand national team more than 70 times, and his contributions to Cairns were acknowledged last year with the Taipans Coaches Award, and again this year when he was voted by his teammates as the Player’s Player.