Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
KUNNERT, Kevin
KUNNERT, Kevin. (Dubuque, IA, Nov. 11, 1951- ). Kunnert was a star player all four years at WAHLERT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL. He was a member of the state's third place team in 1969. (1)
Kunnert attended the University of Iowa and played center. In 1973 he was the recipient of the George Clarkson Award as the outstanding player in Iowa and the unanimous choice as Iowa's most valuable player during the 1972-73 season. (2) Kunnert was once the scoring leader, twice the team's most valuable player, and three times its rebound leader. In 2024 he continued to rank third all-time. He still had two of the top six rebounding seasons in school history with 353 in 1972 and 334 in 1973 and still had two of the top six rebounding games in program history (23 rebounds vs. Drake, Illinois in 1972). (3) He ranked fifteenth on Iowa's all time scoring list with 1,145 points. He was one of fifty-six players from across the United States to be invited to tryout for the United States Olympic team. (4)
In 1973 Kunnert was the first round twelfth pick of the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association of the American Basketball Association. (5) When negotiations with Chicago broke down, Kunnert signed with the Buffalo Braves and established a $2,600 annual scholarship at the University of Iowa for as long as his professional career lasted. His was the first five-year, no-cut contract in the National Basketball Association by the Buffalo team.
In 1974 Kunnert was traded to the Houston Rockets. (6) He spent four and one-half years there before becoming a San Diego Clipper. He was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers where he closed out his career after three years. During his NBA career, Kunnert average 8.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, in 555 games. (7)
During the summer of 2024, Kunnert was scheduled to join eight other Hawkeyes in the 35th Iowa Hawkeyes Hall of Fame. (8)
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Source:
1. Tigges, John. They Came From Dubuque. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1983, p. 9
2. Ibid.
3. Leitner, Jim, "Kunnert to Iowa Hall," Telegraph Herald, June 9, 2024, p. 3B
4. Tigges
5. "Kevin Kunnert," Basketball-Reference.com. Online: http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kunneke01.html
6. Tigges, John. p. 10
7. "Kevin Kunnert," Hawk Central. Online: http://hawkcentral.com/2010/07/24/where-are-they-now-kevin-kunnert/
8. Leitner