Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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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- ). Basketball star. In 1973 Kunnert, a star player all four years at WAHLERT HIGH SCHOOL, 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. He was also the unanimous choice as Iowa's most valuable player. At Iowa, Kunnert was once the scoring leader, twice the team's most valuable player, and three times its rebound leader. He ranks fifteenth on Iowa's all time scoring list with 1,145 points.
Kunnert was named the number one draft choice of both the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association and the San Antonio Spurs of the American Basketball Association. 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. 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.