Ken McKenzie

Ken McKenzie is a former Canadian basketball player. He played for the Canadian national team; had a successful university career at the University of Montana; has been described as one of the best centers in Canadian history; and was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1975 NBA draft.

University McKenzie played at the high school level at Port Moody Secondary School until the school burned down in 1969, requiring him to transfer to Centennial Secondary School for his senior year.

McKenzie was a starter in each of his seasons with the Grizzlies. He was named the Big Sky MVP twice (1974, 1975), in both of these seasons averaging around 18 ppg and 11 rebounds per game. During his career at Montana, McKenzie averaged a double-double (16.3 ppg, 10.5 rbg). The Grizzlies reached the Sweet Sixteen and played top-ranked UCLA, who had future NBA players Marques Johnson and Richard Washington and were coached by the legendary coach John Wooden. McKenzie was also selected to Canada's 1976 Olympic team; however, McKenzie suffered a severe knee injury in an exhibition game against the USA days before said Olympics, precluding him from competing.

McKenzie performed well in international tournaments. In the 1974 FIBA World Cup, McKenzie was Canada's third overall scorer with 11.9 ppg. He had notable performances against the US, where he was Canada's leading scorer with 18 points; against Yugoslavia, where he was Canada's leading scorer with 25 points; against Puerto Rico, where he was Canada's leading scorer with 14 points; and against the Soviet Union, where he was Canada's second-leading scorer with 9 points.

Professional McKenzie was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1975 NBA Draft in the 8th round and as the 138th overall pick. McKenzie decided to maintain his amateur status for the 1976 Olympics and instead played a year professionally in France in the 1975–1976 season.

Post-career recognition McKenzie was inducted into the BC Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. The 1974-1975 University of Montana team of which he was part was inducted into the university's sports hall of fame in 2010.

Personal life McKenzie was born in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. After the 1976 Olympics and his knee injury, McKenzie returned to Port Coquitlam and, like his father, became a railroad engineer where he worked for 29 years before retiring around 2008. His daughter, Joby McKenzie, was also a successful basketball player and like her father, was inducted into the BC Basketball Hall of Fame (2015).