Keanu Pinder

Keanu Tecumseh Pinder (born 28 May 1995)[1][2] is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for Hutchinson Community College and the Arizona Wildcats.

Keanu Pinder
Pinder with the Cairns Taipans in 2022
No. 25 – Perth Wildcats
PositionPower forward / center
LeagueNBL
Personal information
Born (1995-05-28) 28 May 1995
Derby, Western Australia, Australia
Listed height210 cm (6 ft 11 in)
Listed weight103 kg (227 lb)
Career information
High schoolSunrise Christian Academy
(Wichita, Kansas)
College
NBA draft2018: undrafted
Playing career2013–present
Career history
2013Lakeside Lightning
2015East Perth Eagles
2018–2020Legia Warszawa
2020–2021Adelaide 36ers
2021–2023Cairns Taipans
2022Northside Wizards
2023Fuenlabrada
2023–presentPerth Wildcats
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Australia
FIBA Asia Cup
Gold medal – first place2022 Jakarta

Early life and career

Pinder was born in Derby, Western Australia,[1] to an Indigenous Australian mother from the Kimberley region[3] and a Bahamian father. His father, Kendal, played professionally for the Perth Wildcats in the National Basketball League.[4]

Pinder grew up in Western Australia and played both basketball and Australian rules football.[4]

Pinder was a part of the Perth Wildcats training squad and academy during the 2012–13 season[4] and was then a member of the Lakeside Lightning in 2013 when they won the State Basketball League (SBL) championship.[5] He had a short stint with the East Perth Eagles during the 2015 SBL season.[6]

In 2013, Pinder moved to the United States to spend a prep season attending and playing for Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kansas.[7]

College career

Between 2014 and 2016, Pinder played college basketball for Hutchinson Community College. He averaged 6.5 points and 6.5 rebounds as a freshman in 2014–15[7] and then 10.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks as a sophomore in 2015–16.[8]

In March 2016, Pinder transferred to the University of Arizona.[9]

As a junior with the Wildcats in 2016–17, Pinder appeared in 35 games and averaged 2.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per game.[8]

As a senior in 2017–18, Pinder averaged 2.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per game.[8]

Professional career

In August 2018, Pinder signed with Legia Warszawa of the Polish Basketball League.[10][11] He averaged 7.2 points and 4.0 rebounds in 2018–19[12] and 7.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in 2019–20.[13]

On 17 July 2020, Pinder signed with the Adelaide 36ers for the 2020–21 NBL season.[13][14] He averaged 4.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in 35 games in his first NBL season.[15]

On 19 July 2021, Pinder signed a two-year deal with the Cairns Taipans.[16] He averaged 10.9 points and 7.6 rebounds in 28 games during the 2021–22 season, as he won the NBL Most Improved Player Award.[15] In the 2022 off-season, he played for the Northside Wizards of the NBL1 North.[17] In 2022–23, he averaged 16.9 points and 9.3 rebounds in 19 games before injury cut his season short. He dealt with an ankle injury and then an orbital eye fracture which forced him to watch from the sidelines during finals.[18] He was named NBL Most Improved Player for the second straight year, becoming the first player in league history to win the award twice.[15]

On 3 March 2023, Pinder signed with Fuenlabrada of the Liga ACB.[19] He wore a protective mask for his face injury while playing in Spain.[18]

On 1 April 2023, Pinder signed a two-year deal with the Perth Wildcats.[20] He joined the Phoenix Suns for the 2023 NBA Summer League,[21] but injured his back at practice and did not play.[18]

National team career

Pinder represented Australia for the first time at the 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in the Czech Republic.[22][23]

In 2015, Pinder played for the Australian University National Team at the World University Games in South Korea.[12]

In 2022, Pinder won gold with the Boomers at the FIBA Asia Cup in Indonesia.[12]

Pinder was not selected by the Boomers for the 2023 FIBA World Cup after injuring his groin during training camp.[18]

References
  1. "Keanu Pinder". acb.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  2. "Keanu Pinder". championsleague.basketball. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  3. "Athletic Route to Div I – Pinder takes the road less traveled to achieve his long term ambitions". livonbasketball.com. 21 March 2015. Archived from the original on 7 July 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  4. Rogan, Luke (7 August 2018). "Keanu Pinder: The boy from Derby WA". aussiehoopla.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  5. "Player statistics for Keanu Pinder – 2013". SBL.asn.au. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  6. "Player statistics for Keanu Pinder – 2015". SBL.asn.au. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  7. "Keanu Pinder de-commits from Nebraska, will explore options". pickandroll.com.au. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  8. "Keanu Pinder". arizonawildcats.com. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  9. "Australian forward Keanu Pinder 'can't wait' to join Arizona Wildcats". tucson.com. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  10. Pascoe, Bruce (22 August 2018). "Former Arizona Wildcats forward Keanu Pinder signs with Polish pro team". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  11. Cauchi, Orazio (22 August 2018). "Legia Warszawa signs rookie Keanu Pinder". Sportando. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  12. "Keanu Pinder". australiabasket.com. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  13. "Adelaide 36ers Sign Keanu Pinder". adelaide36ers.com. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  14. "Keanu Pinder Signs With 36ers". nbl.com.au. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  15. "Taipans takeover NBL Awards". taipans.com. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  16. "Taipans Sign Keanu Pinder". NBL.com.au. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  17. "NBL1 North PLAYER ANNOUNCEMENT⁠". facebook.com/northsidewizards. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  18. O'Donoghue, Craig (17 August 2023). "Perth Wildcats recruit Keanu Pinder unsure of recovery timeline after injury during World Cup Training Camp". TheWest.com.au. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  19. "El Carplus Fuenlabrada ficha al pívot Keanu Pinder". baloncestofuenlabrada.com (in Spanish). 3 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  20. "Wildcats welcome Keanu Pinder home to Perth". Wildcats.com.au. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  21. "Wildcats welcome Keanu Pinder home to Perth". Wildcats.com.au. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  22. Ward, Roy (6 July 2013). "Emus to play for medal in basketball championships". smh.com.au. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  23. "Pinder to represent Australia". Wildcats.com.au. 4 April 2013. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
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