Mike Penberthy
Encyclopedia
Mike Penberthy is an American
professional basketball
player. A 6'3" (1.90 m) point guard from The Master's College, Penberthy was not drafted
by an NBA
team but did manage to play for the Los Angeles Lakers
for two years (2000-01 to 2001–02). Penberthy was part of their 2000–01 championship team.
, Penberthy graduated from Herbert Hoover High School at Fresno, California
in 1993. He played college basketball for The Master's College in Santa Clarita, California
, where he played with distinction, broke numerous school records (including most career points), and was later a charter member of the college for the 2003-2004 season. He graduated from The Master's College in 1997 with a B.A.
degree in biblical studies
.
and tore his right hamstring; he took three months off and joined the Continental Basketball Association
team Idaho Stampede
, which drafted him from college. The Stampede cut Pemberthy, who said he "hated" playing there, and he transferred to the German team Hamburg Tigers.
During the summer of 1998, when the NBA locked out its players
, Penberthy worked as a forklift driver at Turf Tek, a company managed by a cousin of his. The following fall, Penberthy joined sports ministry Athletes in Action
and the CBA team Quad City Thunder
but was cut due to a sprained right ankle. From April to June 1999, Penberthy played for the Venezuelan team Crocodilos de Caracas.
In his NBA career, Penberthy played in 56 games (all with the Lakers) and had averages of 4.9 points, 1.3 assists and 1.2 rebounds per game while playing 15.4 minutes per game on average.
The Lakers waived Penberthy on November 10, 2001. Since then, he has played basketball in Italy and Germany and competed in the ULEB Cups of 2005, 2006, and 2007. While with Alba Berlin, Penberthy helped the team win the German Cup of 2006.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. A 6'3" (1.90 m) point guard from The Master's College, Penberthy was not drafted
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
by an NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
team but did manage to play for the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
for two years (2000-01 to 2001–02). Penberthy was part of their 2000–01 championship team.
Early life and college
Born in Los Gatos, CaliforniaLos Gatos, California
The Town of Los Gatos is an incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 29,413 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area at the southwest corner of San Jose in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains...
, Penberthy graduated from Herbert Hoover High School at Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
in 1993. He played college basketball for The Master's College in Santa Clarita, California
Santa Clarita, California
Santa Clarita is the fourth largest city in Los Angeles County, California, United States and the twenty-fourth largest city in the state of California. The 2010 US Census reported the city's population grew 16.7% from the year 2000 to 176,320 residents. It is located about northwest of downtown...
, where he played with distinction, broke numerous school records (including most career points), and was later a charter member of the college for the 2003-2004 season. He graduated from The Master's College in 1997 with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in biblical studies
Biblical studies
Biblical studies is the academic study of the Judeo-Christian Bible and related texts. For Christianity, the Bible traditionally comprises the New Testament and Old Testament, which together are sometimes called the "Scriptures." Judaism recognizes as scripture only the Hebrew Bible, also known as...
.
Professional career
Penberthy tried out for the Indiana PacersIndiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
and tore his right hamstring; he took three months off and joined the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
team Idaho Stampede
Idaho Stampede
The Idaho Stampede is an American basketball team that plays in the NBA Development League. The team is based in the Boise, Idaho, area and as of 2005 plays at the CenturyLink Arena in Boise. The team was founded as a member of the Continental Basketball Association in 1997 and was league runner-up...
, which drafted him from college. The Stampede cut Pemberthy, who said he "hated" playing there, and he transferred to the German team Hamburg Tigers.
During the summer of 1998, when the NBA locked out its players
1998–99 NBA lockout
The 1998–99 NBA lockout was the third lockout in the history of the National Basketball Association . It lasted from July 1, 1998 to January 20, 1999, and forced the 1998–99 season to be shortened to 50 games per team and that season's All-Star Game to be canceled...
, Penberthy worked as a forklift driver at Turf Tek, a company managed by a cousin of his. The following fall, Penberthy joined sports ministry Athletes in Action
Athletes in Action
Athletes in Action is an evangelical Christian sports ministry in the tradition of Muscular Christianity. Athletes in Action, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, works with athletes and coaches to use the unique platform of sport to help people around the world with questions of faith...
and the CBA team Quad City Thunder
Quad City Thunder
The Quad City Thunder are a defunct professional basketball team that was based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. They played in the Continental Basketball Association from the 1987-1988 season until the league folded in 2001. The teams was CBA champions in the 1993-1994 and 1997-1998...
but was cut due to a sprained right ankle. From April to June 1999, Penberthy played for the Venezuelan team Crocodilos de Caracas.
In his NBA career, Penberthy played in 56 games (all with the Lakers) and had averages of 4.9 points, 1.3 assists and 1.2 rebounds per game while playing 15.4 minutes per game on average.
The Lakers waived Penberthy on November 10, 2001. Since then, he has played basketball in Italy and Germany and competed in the ULEB Cups of 2005, 2006, and 2007. While with Alba Berlin, Penberthy helped the team win the German Cup of 2006.