Kenny Payne

Who is Kenny Payne?

Kenneth Victor Payne is a retired American professional basketball player and currently an assistant men's basketball coach at the University of Kentucky. A 6'8" 195 lb small forward, Payne played college basketball at the University of Louisville and was a member of Louisville's 1986 NCAA championship squad. He was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 19th pick of the 1989 NBA Draft held at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, where he was booed by a gathering of fans.

In four NBA seasons from 1989 to 1993 for the Sixers, he averaged 3.5 points and 1.2 rebounds per game. He was waived by the team in January, 1993 after failing to live up to expectations. He also played professionally overseas in Italy, Japan, Brazil, the Philippines, Cyprus, China, Argentina and Australia. Following his NBA stint, Payne played one season in the Continental Basketball Association in 1993–94, averaging 16.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game for the Tri-City Chinook.

In 2012 Payne met with Mississippi State University's athletic director about its men's basketball head-coaching vacancy, though, ultimately, he was not hired.

Payne and his wife Michelle have two children, a daughter, Alexis and a son, Alexander.