Even though his stint with the National Basketball Association (NBA) was cut short due to a lingering ankle injury, Virgin Islander Kleon ‘BigKle’ Penn is grateful for the experience and wants another chance at it when he regains full health. Photo: VINO

Speaking to this news site in an exclusive interview today December 15, 2015, Penn said that he hopes to either get back together with the NBA team that gave him his first exposure to the elite League, the Minnesota Timberwolves, or head to either Venezuela or a European country. Photo: VINO

Penn said that he got to the training camp about a week before it started proper and commenced a regimen of rehabilitation on the injured ankle. Photo: VINO

Penn during a stint with the Puerto Rican League. Photo: Provided

Penn played about three games with the Minnesota Timberwolves before being released from the team. Photo: Provided

Speaking to this news site in an exclusive interview today December 15, 2015, Penn said that he hopes to either get back together with the NBA team that gave him his first exposure to the elite League, the Minnesota Timberwolves, or head to either Venezuela or a European country.

Scouted by the Minnesota Timberwolves

“The first time that the coach got to see me was at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) in July 2015,” he recalled.

“Before the game he said ‘I came to see you’ but at the time I didn’t know who he was. Later on someone told me that’s the Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach,” he said.

Penn said that he performed well enough to impress the coaches and he was invited to the Minnesota Timberwolves Summer League. He said that during the last game of the CBC tournament he sprained his ankle really badly.

“As a result I missed the Summer League but we kept in contact and they invited me up to their training camp. But I was still hurt... my ankle was still swollen and everything,” he said.

Penn said that he got to the training camp about a week before it started proper and commenced a regimen of rehabilitation on the injured ankle.

He added that team personnel worked to get him back in shape and even though he wasn’t fully healed he went out there and did what he had to do.

“I wanted to show them that no matter what I was willing to go out there and play. It was a great experience training there with all of the guys, learning new things, how to work out, and how to treat my body.”

He said that while the training camp lasted only four days, he got some playing time with the team, albeit at the end of the game. He said the team lost those games as well and while he did not score, he managed to get some assists and rebounds.

Nervous & excited about first play with Timberwolves

He recalled being both nervous and excited the first time his name was called for him to take the floor, adding that such was the excitement that he was fumbling to take off his outer gear so he could take to the floor. 

Because of the ankle injury he was not able to jump or do anything explosive.

“It was only when one week was left that I started showing signs of me... blocking shots, playing good defence and dunking.”

He said that while his engagement with the team ended there, it does not signal the end as he was invited to next year’s Summer League where the team would be able to watch him play a lot more.

Asked what the diagnosis on the ankle was, Penn said that the doctors advised that it has healed. However because of the level of swelling, it will take several weeks before being back to the original size.

“But it’s good. I could do whatever on it now. Just that it is still big and will need time to go down,” he said.

Penn noted that in the meantime he will concentrate on either Venezuela or Europe. He also has an opportunity to play in Puerto Rico early next year.

First VIslander in the NBA

With the coveted title of being the first Virgin Islander to play in the NBA, Penn said that the thought didn’t sink in until he saw people “making a fuss’ about it.

“It’s like after all these years and I’m the first one to be there... I mean if you look on the roster you would see my name. But I just don’t want my name on the roster only just for that one time. I want to be playing for the team and contributing,” he said.

Come summer 2016, Penn will be heading off to one of two Summer Leagues. “I will be heading to the Summer League in Orlando, Florida with the Minnesota Timberwolves, among others. There is another Summer League in Las Vegas. If I’m good with Minnesota I guess I’ll stay with them but if another team wants me then I’ll go just to stay out there,” he said.