Quick Facts
Biography
Kevin Lisch (born May 16, 1986) is an American-born Australian professional basketball player for the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for Saint Louis University and holds an Italian passport.
College career
As a freshman at Saint Louis in 2005–06, Lisch earned A-10 All-Rookie Team honors and was a three-time recipient of the A-10 Rookie of the Week award. In 29 games, he averaged 11.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
As a sophomore in 2006–07, Lisch earned A-10 All-Defensive Team honors and was an honorable mention All-Conference selection. In 32 games, he averaged 14.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steals per games.
As a junior in 2007–08, Lisch earned third-team All-Conference and All-Defensive team honors. He was also voted to the Academic All-Conference squad. In 31 games, he averaged 14.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
As a senior in 2008–09, Lisch was a first-team Academic All-District selection and was chosen to the NABC All-District second team. He was also voted the A-10 Men's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Year and was third-team All-Conference. In 31 games, he averaged 14.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
Professional career
Perth Wildcats
2009–10 season
In June 2009, Lisch was invited to work out with the Indiana Pacers prior to the 2009 NBA draft but subsequently went undrafted. In July 2009, he signed with the Perth Wildcats for the 2009–10 NBL season. Despite a slow start for Lisch to start the season, he picked up his game by the end of the season to help the Wildcats win their record-breaking fifth NBL championship. To cap off his rookie year, he was awarded the Larry Sengstock Medal as the MVP of the Grand Final series against the Wollongong Hawks.
2010–11 season
In April 2010, Lisch re-signed with the Wildcats for the 2010–11 NBL season. He went on to be named co-winner of the 2011 Wildcats MVP award alongside injured captain Shawn Redhage. He averaged 13.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 31 games for the fourth placed Wildcats.
2011–12 season
In May 2011, Lisch re-signed with the Wildcats to a two-year deal.
On March 26, 2012, Lisch was rewarded for a stellar season with the Wildcats when he was named the NBL's Most Valuable Player for the 2011–12 season, as well as being named to the All-NBL first team for the first time. In 34 games, he averaged 17.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting at 44.3% from the field, 36.7% from beyond the three-point arc and 81.2% from the free-throw line.
2012–13 season
Lisch was originally picked as the starting shooting guard for the South All-Stars in the 2012 NBL All-Star Game but withdrew due to a groin injury.
On February 4, 2013, Lisch was named to the Perth Wildcats 30th Anniversary All-Star team.
At the conclusion of the regular season, Lisch earned All-NBL first team honors for the second straight year. He also finished in the top five for league MVP voting. On May 4, 2013, Lisch was awarded his third straight Gordon Ellis Medal for being the Perth Wildcats' MVP for 2012–13.
In 130 games for the Wildcats over four seasons, Lisch averaged 14.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
Puerto Rico
In May 2013, Lisch joined Piratas de Quebradillas for the 2013 BSN season. He was joined by fellow Wildcats teammate Shawn Redhage. Later that month, it was announced that Lisch would not be returning to the Wildcats in 2013–14. On July 29, 2013, Piratas de Quebradillas won the BSN championship with Lisch earning MVP of the 2013 Finals series. In 35 games for Quebradillas, he averaged 16.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
France
On July 6, 2013, Lisch signed with JSF Nanterre, joining his brother-in-law, Trenton Meacham, at the club.
After missing the first three months of the 2013–14 season due to a broken finger, Lisch made his debut for Nanterre on January 7, 2014 in a Eurocup game. In 16 minutes of action, he recorded 3 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in an 88–84 overtime win over Pallacanestro Cantù. On March 15, he recorded a season-high 18 points in a loss to Limoges CSP. On April 26, he tied his season-high of 18 points in a loss to BCM Gravelines. In 11 league games for Nanterre, he averaged 8.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
On June 1, 2014, it was announced that Lisch would not be returning to Nanterre in 2014–15.
Spain
On June 14, 2014, Lisch signed with CAI Zaragoza of Spain for the 2014–15 season. On November 16, 2014, he scored a season-high 20 points in an 82–71 win over Bilbao Basket. In 34 league games for Zaragoza, he averaged 6.4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
Illawarra Hawks
On July 6, 2015, Lisch signed with the Illawarra Hawks for the 2015–16 NBL season, returning to the NBL for a second stint and re-joining his former Wildcats head coach, Rob Beveridge, at the Hawks. In his debut for the Hawks on October 8, Lisch contributed seven points before hobbling off the court during the third quarter of the game with a knee injury and did not return, as the Hawks went on to lose the game to the Cairns Taipans 79–74. He subsequently missed the Hawks next game on October 11 against Melbourne United, and was later ruled out for the team's Round 2 schedule. He returned to action on October 25 to face his former club, the Perth Wildcats, for the first time. Making his first appearance for the Hawks at WIN Entertainment Centre, Lisch recorded 15 points and 7 assists in a tough 106–99 loss to the Wildcats. On January 7, 2016, he was named NBL Player of the Month for December after leading the Hawks to five wins in six games and averaging 22.7 points, 4.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game throughout the month. On January 17, he scored a career-high 40 points in a 103–96 double overtime win over the New Zealand Breakers. His 40 points also matched Jermaine Beal's total for most points scored by an individual in 2015–16 at the time. Four days later, he played his 150th NBL game in a loss to the Perth Wildcats in Perth. On February 17, he was named NBL MVP for the second time in his career, while also earning NBL Best Defensive Player and All-NBL first team honors. He became just the second player in league history to win the award with two different teams. Two days later, in the Hawks' first semi-final game against the Wildcats in Perth, Lisch injured his ankle battling for a rebound early in the second quarter, ruling him out for Game 2 of the series. He recovered in time to face the Wildcats in Game 3, following the Hawks' Game 2 win to level the series at 1–1. However, despite Lisch's return, the Hawks were defeated 89–74 in Game 3, as they bowed out of the playoffs with a 2–1 series loss. In 27 games for the Hawks, he averaged 19.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
Return to Puerto Rico
On February 2, 2016, Lisch signed with Piratas de Quebradillas for the 2016 BSN season, returning to the club for a second stint. In 20 games for Quebradillas, he averaged 14.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
Sydney Kings
On April 2, 2016, Lisch signed a three-year deal with the Sydney Kings, parting ways with the Hawks and long-time friend and mentor Rob Beveridge for the chance to move north to his wife's hometown of Sydney to play for newly appointed Kings' head coach Andrew Gaze. For his debut season with the Kings, he was named team captain.
On October 8, 2016, Lisch made his debut for the Kings in their season opener against the Brisbane Bullets. In 34 minutes of action, he scored a game-high 20 points in a 77–73 loss. On October 15, in the third quarter of the Kings' 92–78 win over the Cairns Taipans, Lisch suffered a blow to the head (his second for the night) and had to be helped to the locker room. He later passed the concussion test and needed four stitches for a cut to his ear. On October 24, he recorded 19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and a career-high 6 steals in a 90–73 win over his former team, the Illawarra Hawks. Six days later, he missed his first game of the season with a minor leg injury. On November 12, he scored a season-high 30 points in an 87–71 win over Melbourne United.
National team career
In May 2016, Lisch was named in the Australian national team's 17-man squad for a selection camp in Melbourne in July ahead of the Rio Olympics. He was subsequently named in the final 12-man squad.
Personal
Lisch's father, Rusty Lisch, played in the National Football League (NFL) as a quarterback. His mother is Italian, and he has a younger brother, Daniel, a younger sister, Theresa, and an older sister, Stephanie.
Lisch's wife, Rachel Lisch (née Watman), also played basketball professionally. The couple have two children together.
Lisch became an Australian citizen in March 2016.