Kenny Payne

Kenny Payne

Payne coaching in Kentucky's 2014 Blue-White scrimmage
Personal information
Born	(1966-11-25) November 25, 1966 (age 50) Laurel, Mississippi
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school	Northeast Jones (Laurel, Mississippi)
College	Louisville (1985–1989)
NBA draft	1989 / Round: 1 / Pick: 19th overall
Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers
Playing career	1989–2000
Position	Small forward
Number	18, 21
Career history
As player:
1989–1993	Philadelphia 76ers
1993–1994	Tri-City Chinook
?–2000	Cairns Taipans
As coach:
2004–2009	Oregon (asst.)
2010–present	Kentucky (asst.)

Kenneth Victor "Kenny" Payne (born (1966-11-25)November 25, 1966) is a retired American professional basketball player and currently an assistant men's basketball coach at the University of Kentucky. A 6'8" (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 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 (born March 11, 1998) and a son, Alexander (born March 23, 2000).