Keanu Pinder

Last updated

Keanu Pinder
Keanu Pinder Cairns Taipans 06.jpg
Pinder with the Cairns Taipans in 2022
No. 25–Perth Wildcats
Position Power forward / center
League NBL
Personal information
Born (1995-05-28) 28 May 1995 (age 28)
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 draft 2018: undrafted
Playing career2013–present
Career history
2013 Lakeside Lightning
2015 East Perth Eagles
2018–2020 Legia Warszawa
2020–2021 Adelaide 36ers
2021–2023 Cairns Taipans
2022 Northside Wizards
2023 Fuenlabrada
2023–present Perth Wildcats
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
FIBA Asia Cup
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2022 Jakarta

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.

Contents

Early life and career

Pinder was born in Derby, Western Australia. [1] He grew up in Derby before moving to Perth at age 10 for school. [3] As a youth, he played both basketball and Australian rules football. [4]

During the 2012–13 season, Pinder was a part of the training squad and academy of the Perth Wildcats. [4] He 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]

Personal life

Pinder's mother, Tracey Smith, is an Indigenous Australian. She was born in Kalbarri, Western Australia, but lived most of her life in the Kimberley region. [3] [24] His Bahamian father, Kendal Pinder, played professionally for the Perth Wildcats in the National Basketball League. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawn Redhage</span> American-Australian basketball player

Shawn Michael Redhage is an American-Australian former professional basketball player who is most known for his 12 seasons played with the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played four years of college basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils before moving to Australia in 2004 to play professionally. After spending time in the SEABL and with the New Zealand Breakers, Redhage joined the Wildcats in 2005 and went on to become one of the franchise's all-time great players.

Stephen Weigh is an Australian former professional basketball player who spent 10 seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL). He started his NBL career in 2008 after a two-year college stint at Utah. He won his only NBL Championship in 2010 with the Wildcats before joining the Adelaide 36ers in 2011. After two seasons with the 36ers, Weigh returned to his home state of Queensland and played out his final five seasons with the Cairns Taipans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Hire</span> Australian basketball player

Greg Hire is an Australian former professional basketball player. He played four years of college basketball in the United States before joining the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL) in 2010 as a development player. In 2011, he was elevated to the full-time roster and in 2014 he won his first NBL championship. He went on to win three more championships in 2016, 2017 and 2019. In the NBL1 West, he won a championship with the Wanneroo Wolves in 2011 and again with the Rockingham Flames in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse Wagstaff</span> Australian basketball player

Jesse Kendall James Wagstaff is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL). After playing college basketball for the Metro State Roadrunners in the United States, he joined the Wildcats in 2009 and won Rookie of the Year and a championship in his first season in the NBL. He went on to earn NBL Best Sixth Man in 2012 and then won five more championships in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucas Walker</span> Australian basketball player

Lucas Walker is an Australian basketball player for the Illawarra Hawks of the NBL1 East. He played 10 seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL) between 2010 and 2020. He played college basketball for Montana State University Billings and Saint Mary's College of California before joining the Melbourne Tigers in 2010. After five seasons with Melbourne, he had stints with the Adelaide 36ers, Perth Wildcats, Cairns Taipans and Sydney Kings. He won an NBL championship with the Wildcats in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryce Cotton</span> American basketball player

Bryce Jiron Cotton is an American professional basketball player for the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the Providence Friars, where he was a two-time first-team All-Big East honoree. He joined the Austin Spurs in 2014 before splitting the next two years in the NBA and NBA Development League, and spending time in China and Turkey. He spent the back-end of the 2014–15 season with the Utah Jazz and had short stints with the Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies during the 2015–16 season. In January 2017, he arrived in Australia to play for the Wildcats. Two months later, he guided Perth to the NBL championship behind a Grand Final MVP performance. He continued on with the Wildcats for the 2017–18 season and won the NBL Most Valuable Player Award. He won his second and third NBL championships in 2019 and 2020 while also garnering his second NBL MVP and second Grand Final MVP in 2020. He won his third NBL MVP in 2021.

Cameron Richard Gliddon is an Australian professional basketball player for the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League (NBL). He is also contracted with the Auckland Tuatara of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He played four years of college basketball for Concordia University before returning to Australia and joining the Cairns Taipans, where he won the NBL Rookie of the Year Award in 2013. After six seasons with the Taipans, he joined the Brisbane Bullets, where he played two seasons before playing two seasons for the South East Melbourne Phoenix. In 2022, he joined the Breakers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Jervis</span> Australian basketball player

Thomas Lachlan Jervis is an Australian professional basketball player for the Rockingham Flames of the NBL1 West. He played college basketball for Bevill State Community College and Troy University in the United States before debuting in the National Basketball League (NBL). He won two NBL championships with the Perth Wildcats between 2013 and 2016. After two seasons with the Brisbane Bullets, Jervis returned to the Wildcats in 2018 and won his third championship. He retired from basketball in 2019 but made a comeback in January 2021 to re-join the Wildcats. Jervis is also well known for his time spent in the State Basketball League (SBL) with the East Perth Eagles, having played for them every year between 2009 and 2016, helping them win their maiden championship in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Fisher (basketball, born 1994)</span> Australian basketball player

Anthony Fisher is an Australian former professional basketball player. He played the majority of his career in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) and Queensland Basketball League (QBL), playing for the Ballarat Miners (2011–2015) and Cairns Marlins. He was a member of the Marlins' championship-winning team in 2016. He also had stints in the National Basketball League (NBL) with the Perth Wildcats and Cairns Taipans. After four years as a development player and extended squad member of the Taipans, he earned a full-time contract with the club in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clint Steindl</span> Australian basketball player

Clinton Harold Steindl is an Australian professional basketball player for the Tasmania JackJumpers of the National Basketball League (NBL). After attending the Australian Institute of Sport, he moved to the United States in 2008 to play college basketball for Saint Mary's. In 2012, he returned to Australia and joined the Cairns Taipans, where he spent two seasons. In 2014, he joined the Townsville Crocodiles, where he spent another two seasons and won the NBL Most Improved Player in 2016. After stints in Belgium and Greece, he joined the Perth Wildcats in 2017, going on to win two NBL championships in 2019 and 2020. He has also represented the Australian national team.

Bradley Robbins is an Australian basketball coach and former player who is most known for his time spent in the National Basketball League (NBL) with the Perth Wildcats. He currently serves as an assistant coach with the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). He is also the head coach of the Warwick Senators women's team in the NBL1 West.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Majok Majok</span>

Majok Maker Majok is a South Sudanese-Australian professional basketball player for the Tasmania JackJumpers of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the Ball State Cardinals for two years, leading the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in rebounding and earning third-team all-conference honors in both seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhys Vague</span> Australian basketball player

Rhys Anthony Vague is an Australian professional basketball player for the South East Melbourne Phoenix of the National Basketball League (NBL). He is also contracted with the Cockburn Cougars of the NBL1 West. He made his debut for his hometown Perth Wildcats in the NBL as a development player in 2014. After four seasons as a development player, he was elevated to a fully contracted player in 2018. In his six seasons with the Wildcats, he was a part of four championship teams in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020. Vague also made a name for himself in the State Basketball League (SBL), playing for the Cockburn Cougars, East Perth Eagles and Stirling Senators, earning the SBL's Most Improved Player in 2015. Between 2020 and 2023, he played in Japan for the Kagawa Five Arrows.

Sunday Dech is a South Sudanese-Australian professional basketball player for the Adelaide 36ers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He is a two-time NBL champion with the Perth Wildcats, having won in 2014 and 2019. Dech played NCAA Division II college basketball for the Metro State Roadrunners and Barry Buccaneers.

Hyrum Tipene Harris is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Perth Wildcats of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He is also contracted with the Wellington Saints of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL).

The 2022–23 NBL season was the 45th season of the National Basketball League since its establishment in 1979. A total of ten teams contested in the 2022–23 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Travers</span> Australian basketball player

Luke Jacob Travers is an Australian professional basketball player for Melbourne United of the National Basketball League (NBL). Opting to forgo college basketball in the United States to begin his professional career in Australia, he made his debut for the Perth Wildcats in the NBL as a development player in 2019 and became an NBL champion in 2020. At state league level, he played three seasons for the Rockingham Flames in the State Basketball League (SBL) between 2017 and 2019, and then had a stint with the Cockburn Cougars in 2020 during the West Coast Classic. He was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 56th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft.

Mitchell Clarke is an Australian professional basketball player for the Reading Rockets of the English National Basketball League. After playing his first five seasons with the Perry Lakes Hawks in the NBL1 West, he had a season as a development player with the Perth Wildcats of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) before playing for the Bendigo Braves in the NBL1 South in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marshall Nelson</span> Australian basketball player

Marshall Lance Nelson is an Australian-Belgian professional basketball player for the Rockingham Flames of the NBL1 West. Debuting in the State Basketball League (SBL) in 2014 for the Perth Redbacks, Nelson went on to play three seasons of college basketball in the United States and has played in Sweden and Iceland. He has had two stints in the National Basketball League (NBL), first with the Illawarra Hawks as a development player between 2017 and 2019 and then with the Cairns Taipans as an injury replacement during the 2021–22 season. He played his sixth season with the Redbacks in 2021 and helped them win the SBL championship in 2017. In 2022, he helped the Flames win the NBL1 West championship and NBL1 National championship. He holds a Belgian passport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Harris (basketball, born 1999)</span> Australian basketball player

Michael Harris is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL).

References

  1. 1 2 "Keanu Pinder". acb.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "Keanu Pinder". championsleague.basketball. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  3. 1 2 O'Donoghue, Craig (4 November 2023). "Perth Wildcats star Keanu Pinder opens up on growing up in Derby ahead of NBL's Indigenous Round". The West Australian . Archived from the original on 5 November 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 "Keanu Pinder de-commits from Nebraska, will explore options". pickandroll.com.au. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 3 "Keanu Pinder" . australiabasket.com. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  13. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 3 4 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.
  24. ↑ "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.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.