Kevin Lisch

Kevin Lisch
No. 12 – Piratas de Quebradillas
Position Shooting guard / Point guard
League BSN
Personal information
Born (1986-05-16) May 16, 1986
Belleville, Illinois
Nationality American / Australian
Listed height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight 194 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school Althoff Catholic (Belleville, Illinois)
College Saint Louis (2005–2009)
NBA draft 2009 / Undrafted
Playing career 2009–present
Career history
2009–2013 Perth Wildcats
2013 Piratas de Quebradillas
2013–2014 JSF Nanterre
2014–2015 CAI Zaragoza
2015–2016 Illawarra Hawks
2016–present Piratas de Quebradillas
2016–present Sydney Kings
Career highlights and awards

Kevin Lisch (born May 16, 1986) is an American-born Australian professional basketball player for Piratas de Quebradillas of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He played college basketball for Saint Louis University and holds an Italian passport.[1]

College career

As a freshman at Saint Louis in 2005–06, Lisch earned A-10 All-Rookie Team honors and was a three-time recipient of the A-10 Rookie of the Week award. In 29 games, he averaged 11.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.[2][3]

As a sophomore in 2006–07, Lisch earned A-10 All-Defensive Team honors and was an honorable mention All-Conference selection. In 32 games, he averaged 14.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steals per games.[2][3]

As a junior in 2007–08, Lisch earned third-team All-Conference and All-Defensive team honors. He was also voted to the Academic All-Conference squad. In 31 games, he averaged 14.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game.[2][3]

As a senior in 2008–09, Lisch was a first-team Academic All-District selection and was chosen to the NABC All-District second team. He was also voted the A-10 Men's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Year and was third-team All-Conference. In 31 games, he averaged 14.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game.[2][3]

Professional career

Perth Wildcats

2009–10 season

In June 2009, Lisch was invited to work out with the Indiana Pacers prior to the 2009 NBA draft[2] but subsequently went undrafted. In July 2009, he signed with the Perth Wildcats for the 2009–10 NBL season.[4] Despite a slow start for Lisch to start the season, he picked up his game by the end of the season to help the Wildcats win their record-breaking fifth NBL championship. To cap off his rookie year, he was awarded the Larry Sengstock Medal as the MVP of the Grand Final series against the Wollongong Hawks.[5][6]

2010–11 season

In April 2010, Lisch re-signed with the Wildcats for the 2010–11 NBL season.[7] He went on to be named co-winner of the 2011 Wildcats MVP award alongside injured captain Shawn Redhage. He averaged 13.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 31 games for the fourth placed Wildcats.

2011–12 season

In May 2011, Lisch re-signed with the Wildcats to a two-year deal.[8]

On March 26, 2012, Lisch was rewarded for a stellar season with the Wildcats when he was named the NBL's Most Valuable Player for the 2011–12 season, as well as being named to the All-NBL first team for the first time.[9] In 34 games, he averaged 17.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting at 44.3% from the field, 36.7% from beyond the three-point arc and 81.2% from the free-throw line.

2012–13 season

Lisch was originally picked as the starting shooting guard for the South All-Stars in the 2012 NBL All-Star Game but withdrew due to a groin injury.[10]

On February 4, 2013, Lisch was named to the Perth Wildcats 30th Anniversary All-Star team.[11]

At the conclusion of the regular season, Lisch earned All-NBL first team honors for the second straight year.[12] He also finished in the top five for league MVP voting. On May 4, 2013, Lisch was awarded his third straight Gordon Ellis Medal for being the Perth Wildcats' MVP for 2012–13.[13]

In 130 games for the Wildcats over four seasons, Lisch averaged 14.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.[14]

Puerto Rico

In May 2013, Lisch joined Piratas de Quebradillas for the 2013 BSN season. He was joined by fellow Wildcats teammate Shawn Redhage. Later that month, it was announced that Lisch would not be returning to the Wildcats in 2013–14.[15] On July 29, 2013, Piratas de Quebradillas won the BSN championship with Lisch earning MVP of the 2013 Finals series. In 35 games for Quebradillas, he averaged 16.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game.

France

On July 6, 2013, Lisch signed with JSF Nanterre,[16] joining his brother-in-law, Trenton Meacham, at the club.[17]

After missing the first three months of the 2013–14 season due to a broken finger,[18] Lisch made his debut for Nanterre on January 7, 2014 in a Eurocup game. In 16 minutes of action, he recorded 3 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in an 88–84 overtime win over Pallacanestro Cantù.[19] On March 15, he recorded a season-high 18 points in a loss to Limoges CSP.[20] On April 26, he tied his season-high of 18 points in a loss to BCM Gravelines.[21] In 11 league games for Nanterre, he averaged 8.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

On June 1, 2014, it was announced that Lisch would not be returning to Nanterre in 2014–15.[22][23]

Spain

On June 14, 2014, Lisch signed with CAI Zaragoza of Spain for the 2014–15 season.[24] On November 16, 2014, he scored a season-high 20 points in an 82–71 win over Bilbao Basket.[25] In 34 league games for Zaragoza, he averaged 6.4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

Illawarra Hawks

On July 6, 2015, Lisch signed with the Illawarra Hawks for the 2015–16 NBL season, returning to the NBL for a second stint and re-joining his former Wildcats head coach, Rob Beveridge, at the Hawks.[26] In his debut for the Hawks on October 8, Lisch contributed seven points before hobbling off the court during the third quarter of the game with a knee injury and did not return, as the Hawks went on to lose the game to the Cairns Taipans 79–74.[27][28] He subsequently missed the Hawks next game on October 11 against Melbourne United, and was later ruled out for the team's Round 2 schedule.[29] He returned to action on October 25 to face his former club, the Perth Wildcats, for the first time. Making his first appearance for the Hawks at WIN Entertainment Centre, Lisch recorded 15 points and 7 assists in a tough 106–99 loss to the Wildcats.[30] On January 7, 2016, he was named NBL Player of the Month for December after leading the Hawks to five wins in six games and averaging 22.7 points, 4.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game throughout the month.[31] On January 17, he scored a career-high 40 points in a 103–96 double overtime win over the New Zealand Breakers. His 40 points also matched Jermaine Beal's total for most points scored by an individual in 2015–16 at the time.[32][33] Four days later, he played his 150th NBL game in a loss to the Perth Wildcats in Perth.[34] On February 17, he was named NBL MVP for the second time in his career,[35][36] while also earning NBL Best Defensive Player[37] and All-NBL first team honors. He became just the second player in league history to win the award with two different teams.[38] Two days later, in the Hawks' first semi-final game against the Wildcats in Perth, Lisch injured his ankle battling for a rebound early in the second quarter, ruling him out for Game 2 of the series.[39][40] He recovered in time to face the Wildcats in Game 3,[41] following the Hawks' Game 2 win to level the series at 1–1. However, despite Lisch's return, the Hawks were defeated 89–74 in Game 3, as they bowed out of the playoffs with a 2–1 series loss.[42] In 27 games for the Hawks, he averaged 19.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

Return to Puerto Rico

On February 2, 2016, Lisch signed with Piratas de Quebradillas for the 2016 BSN season, returning to the club for a second stint.[43]

Sydney Kings

On April 2, 2016, Lisch signed a three-year deal with the Sydney Kings, parting ways with the Hawks and long-time friend and mentor Rob Beveridge[44] for the chance to move north to his wife's hometown of Sydney to play for newly appointed Kings' head coach Andrew Gaze.[45]

Personal

Lisch was always destined to be an athlete with his father having played in the NFL as a quarterback and also college football with the legendary Joe Montana. His father, Russell, is American, while his mother, Catherine, is Italian. He has a younger brother, Daniel, a younger sister, Theresa, and an older sister, Stephanie.[46]

Lisch's wife, Rachel Lisch (née Watman), is a professional basketball player herself.[47] On December 17, 2013, his wife gave birth to the couple's first child, a boy named Benjamin John. The couple's second child, a girl named Sofia Grace, was born on May 26, 2015.[48]

On March 24, 2016, Lisch was granted Australian citizenship.[49]

References

  1. ↑ Kevin Lisch gets the Italian passport
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Prospect Interview: Kevin Lisch
  3. 1 2 3 4 Kevin Lisch Stats
  4. ↑ PERTH WILDCATS SIGN KEVIN LISCH
  5. ↑ Perth Wildcats claim fifth NBL crown with 96-72 defeat of Wollongong Hawks
  6. ↑ Lisch leads 'Cats to record fifth title
  7. ↑ Kevin Lisch re-signs with Perth Wildcats
  8. ↑ Kevin Lisch re-signs with Wildcats
  9. ↑ Perth Wildcats star Kevin Lisch crowned NBL's most valuable player
  10. ↑ Wildcats' Lisch on bench for All-Star game due to injury
  11. ↑ Americans dominate Wildcats All-Star team
  12. ↑ NBL Award Winners
  13. ↑ The winner of the Gordon Ellis Medal as the...
  14. ↑ Player statistics for Kevin Lisch
  15. ↑ Lisch leaves Perth
  16. ↑ JSF Nanterre sign Kevin Lisch
  17. ↑ Lisch makes mark in Puerto Rico, too
  18. ↑ JSF Nanterre loses Kevin Lisch for 6 weeks
  19. ↑ Top 32 Round 1: Nanterre - Cantu 88-84 2OT
  20. ↑ Regular Season Round 23: Nanterre - Limoges 73-81
  21. ↑ Regular Season Round 29: Gravelines - Nanterre 98-89
  22. ↑ Kevin Lisch to leave JSF Nanterre
  23. ↑ Lisch leaves Nanterre
  24. ↑ CAI Zaragoza signs Kevin Lisch
  25. ↑ Regular Season Round 7: Bilbao Basket - CAI Zaragoza 71-82
  26. ↑ HAWKS SECURE 2012 NBL MVP KEVIN LISCH
  27. ↑ Lisch injury a headache for Beveridge
  28. ↑ Lisch 50-50 ahead of Melbourne showdown
  29. ↑ Injury keeps Lisch out for Breakers meeting
  30. ↑ HAWKS GO DOWN 99-106 IN A THRILLER
  31. ↑ DECEMBER: PLAYER AND COACH OF THE MONTH
  32. ↑ KEVIN LISCH DROPS 40 AS HAWKS GET PAST BREAKERS IN DOUBLE OVERTIME
  33. ↑ R15 REPORT: LISCH KNOCKS BREAKERS FROM FOUR IN DOUBLE OT
  34. ↑ Well done to @illawarrahawks pair...
  35. ↑ KEVIN LISCH AWARDED ULTIMATE PRIZE OF MVP
  36. ↑ 2015/16 MVP AND AWARDS NIGHT RECAP
  37. ↑ LISCH DETHRONES MARTIN FOR BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER
  38. ↑ Congratulations @kevinlisch for @NBL MVP. Just...
  39. ↑ SF1 REPORT: WILDCATS OVERPOWER HAWKS-LESS LISCH
  40. ↑ A DEVASTATED ILLAWARRA HAWKS COACH ROB BEVERIDGE HAS RULED OUT TWO-TIME NBL MVP KEVIN LISCH FROM SUNDAY’S MUST-WIN SEMI-FINAL GAME 2
  41. ↑ Perth Wildcats keen to steer clear of hype surrounding injured Illawarra guard Kevin Lisch
  42. ↑ SF3 REPORT: WILDCATS BEAT HAWKS AT HOME AGAIN TO ADVANCE
  43. ↑ Kevin Lisch inks with Piratas de Quebradillas
  44. ↑ LISCH TURNS DOWN THE HAWKS
  45. ↑ CURRENT NBL MVP IS SYDNEY KINGS FIRST MAJOR SIGNING
  46. ↑ One, big, happy (talented) family
  47. ↑ Rachel & Kevin Lisch - A Basketball Love Story
  48. ↑ Our newest addition to the family
  49. ↑ Congratulations to @kevinlisch on officially...

External links

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