Melbourne United import DJ Kennedy is living up to his nick-name "Big Play" as the NBL champions continue tracking for a successful title defence.
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Kennedy has the unusual moniker - given to him by his high school football coach - inked on his neck among other tattoos including his beloved NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Against the Cairns Taipans last round the 29-year-old pulled off a series of clutch plays in the final minute to help United ice their sixth win of the season to sit only behind Perth.
Kennedy has a reputation for delivering under pressure.
As part of the Overseas Elite team, the small forward has won the annual $US2 million elimination, winner-take-all TBT team tournament in the USA four times and was named MVP this year.
"One of my coaches gave me the nickname when I was pretty young and it's been following me through basketball as well," said Kennedy, who said he had the choice to go to college for football as well as basketball.
"It seemed to happen that I make big plays here and there and it's really stuck with me."
Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman will be counting on Kennedy for Friday night's clash with the New Zealand Breakers in Invercargill - the first time an NBL game has been played in the South Island city.
After losing to the Breakers, who sit fourth, in their round one meeting, United's chances of reversing that result were boosted with the inclusion of in-form veteran David Barlow.
Barlow was carried from the court with a knee injury in the third quarter against Cairns but the two-time Olympian, as well as skipper Chris Goulding, who has also been battling a knee injury, have been cleared to play.
"Barlow's been fine - we took him out of the contact load today but he will be fine," Vickerman said.
New Zealand international centre Alex Pledger, who has been battling a virus, will also make the trip with medical staff hopeful he could play.
Vickerman felt his team were in better shape than the travel-weary brigade who last lost to the Breakers in Melbourne.
He said they were on high alert for ex-United star Tai Wesley as well as shooting guard import Patrick Richard.
"That was the first time dealing with the back-to-back trips and I think we've got better since then," Vickerman said.
"Wesley was fantastic and we have to change our coverage on him and Patrick Richard is someone who hit a couple of shots late on us and has been playing really good as well."
Australian Associated Press