[1] Kinney, who attended high school in San Antonio, Texas, went to college at Rice University where he was a standout on the basketball team in 1940–41 and 1941–42.

During his career at Rice, Kinney, who was an imposing 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m), 215 pounds (98 kg) center and forward, was a two-time consensus All-American.

He joined the Fort Wayne Pistons of the National Basketball League (a precursor to the NBA) in 1945.

[1] Kinney's NBA career ended after that season, but he played for the Anderson Packers of the NPBL in 1950–51.

[2] On November 19, 1950, he tied a Packers franchise record with 28 points in a 73–81 loss to the Louisville Alumnites.