BIO: Pinder was born and raised in Derby, Western Australia, among the Nyigina people of the West Kimberley region.

His father, two-time NBL champion ‘Tiny’ Pinder, was a Bahamian backboard-smasher who starred for the Perth Wildcats, playing 220 games in the NBL which included a championship with the Perth Wildcats, but had his career was cut short due to off-court issues. Interestingly, it was Pinder’s mother Tracey, not his Father who who first introduced Keanu to basketball with Tracey having played for East Perth as a teenager.

When he was about sixteen Pinder travelled to Adelaide to play in a Indigenous basketball tournament and it was there that his athletic exploits caught the eye of legendary Indigenous baller Danny Morseu who encouraged him to pursue a career in basketball.

He attended Chisholm Catholic College in Perth before moving to the US to attend Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kansas for his senior year.

FAMILY: Keanu Pinder is the son of Kendal Pinder who played 219 games in the NBL. His mother, Tracey Smith, is an Indigenous woman whose ancestry weaves through generations of First Nations people.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Keanu Pinder made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 25 years of age. He scored five points in his first game.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2020/21
After spending two seasons in Poland, Keanu Pinder returned to Australia in 2020, signing a one-year deal with the Adelaide 36ers. The team was keen to add athleticism and depth to their frontcourt, with CEO Grant Kelley expressing excitement about the signing.

“Keanu Pinder was a highly sought-after player in free agency, and we are thrilled he chose to join the 36ers. Together with Daniel Johnson and Isaac Humphries, he will bring great athleticism and competitiveness to our team and strengthen our offensive capability, which we promised our fans would be a priority for the upcoming season,” said Kelley.

Adelaide’s season began with a change in leadership, as longtime coach Joey Wright was replaced by former Perth assistant Conner Henry, amidst several off-court issues. Wright’s departure, along with the releases of key players like Kevin White, Nathan Sobey, and Harry Froling, prompted a roster rebuild for the 36ers. The team retained players like Jack McVeigh and Daniel Johnson while adding Next Star prospect Josh Giddey, Isaac Humphries, and import guards Donald Sloan and Tony Crocker to bolster the roster.

In their season opener, Adelaide struggled in a heavy loss to Melbourne (65-89). Coach Henry adjusted the starting lineup for the next game, which saw Pinder swap roles with Humphries and Adelaide securing an eight-point win over South East Melbourne (116-108). Despite early-season promise, the team found it difficult to maintain consistency. Sloan, after being demoted to the bench, requested a release, and Jeremy Kendle was brought in as a replacement player.

Adelaide began the season 4-2, but the NBL Cup—an eight-game bubble tournament in Melbourne—derailed their momentum. By the end of the NBL Cup, the 36ers had dropped from third to seventh on the ladder. A major blow came when Humphries suffered a season-ending injury, forcing Adelaide to sign Jack Purchase as his replacement. Although former NBA player Brandon Paul was also brought in to reinforce the roster, it wasn’t enough to change the team’s fortunes.

Pinder played a key role in the 36ers’ frontcourt, starting in 20 games during his rookie season and averaging 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 0.5 assists. His standout performance came in a Round 16 win over the Brisbane Bullets, where he posted 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 assists. Despite Pinder’s contributions and solid seasons from veterans like Daniel Johnson (19.4 points, 7.1 rebounds) and Josh Giddey (10.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.6 assists), who was named NBL Rookie of the Year, Adelaide finished the season with a 13-23 record, placing seventh overall.

CAIRNS TAIPANS
2021/22
On 19 July 2021, Keanu Pinder signed a two-year deal with the Cairns Taipans, with a mutual option for the second year. The move to Cairns marked a fresh start for Pinder as he looked to elevate his game in a new environment.

Cairns underwent a rehaul prior to the 2021/22 season, the first move being Adam Forde replacing head coach Mike Kelly. Forde, who had spent the previous season coaching the Sydney Kings, was tasked with finding some new firepower for the Snakes after losing the team’s leading scorer Cam Oliver to the NBA the previous season.

Imports Tahjere McCall and Stephen Zimmerman were brought in, alongside Keanu Pinder (via Adelaide) and rookie Bul Kuol (Detroit Mercy) to bolster a Taipans core which already included Majok Deng, Kouat Noi, Nathan Jawai, Mirko Djeric, Jarrod Kenny and Scott Machado who was named team captain.

The Taipans struggled to generate wins all season thanks to a glut of player injuries which saw Cairns unable to field a full roster in any game that season. Despite the team’s struggles, Forde was instrumental in developing the Taipans younger talent, many whom delivered career best seasons.

Majok Deng (14.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1 assists) had his best season to date, playing in every game for the Taipans and finishing second on the team in points per game and Keanu Pinder (10.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists), went on to be named the NBL’s Most Improved Player after doubling his points and rebounds from the previous season.

Another breakout season came from Ben Ayre (6.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists), who joined the team originally as a unpaid training player after being recommended to the team by former 36ers coach Joey Wright. Ayre was elevated into the full-time roster as an injury replacement in April, before going on to break NBL records in his eight-game tenure. On 18 April 2022, in just his sixth appearance for the Taipans, Ayre scored a team-high 20 points to go with 10 assists, four rebounds, three steals and four three-pointers in a loss to Melbourne (80-92). The 26-year-old became just the third player in 2021–22 to record 20 points and 10 assists in a game (alongside Bryce Cotton and Jaylen Adams) and just the second Taipan in club history to register 20 points and 10 assists. Lastly, first year player Bul Kuol (10.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists), who had been told he was not guaranteed to be part of the rotation or receive any minutes, also saw injuries thrust him into the lineup and quickly became one of the Taipans’ most important players. He would be rewarded at seasons end by being named Rookie of the Year.

Scott Machado (10.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists) sustained a heel injury in round two of NBL22, missing more than six weeks with the injury. In April 2022, he re-injured his heel and missed the rest of the season. Machado and Tahjere McCall (16.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2 steals), who led the team in scoring, and assists, were selected as co-MVP’s of the team as Cairns finished in second last place (9-19).

2022/23
The 2022/23 season saw Pinder average 16.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists and play a key role in helping the Taipans to a third place finish (18-10). Pinder won his second NBL Most Improved Player award in a row in 2023, becoming the only player in league history to win the award twice.

PERTH WILDCATS
2023/24
On 19 July 2021, Keanu Pinder returned to his hometown Perth, signing a two-year deal with the Wildcats.

At the time of his signing, Wildcats head coach John Rillie expressed excitement about bringing Pinder back to Perth, stating, “Keanu has shown great improvement in his all-around game over the last few seasons, his desire to work and compete for a championship is what caught my attention. He also rebounds at a high level so that addresses one of our weaknesses of last season.”

After missing the NBL playoffs in 2023, Perth opted to re-tool, focusing on younger talent. The Wildcats signed 18-year-old French star Alexandre Sarr via the Next Star Program, alongside import players Jordan Usher and Kristian Doolittle. Perth also added David Okwera (via Melbourne), a local junior talent, to a multi-year deal, and rookie Ben Henshall. These moves culminated in the Wildcats buying out the contracts of veterans Todd Blanchfield (to Illawarra) and Mitchell Norton (to Brisbane).

Perth opened their season with a victory over Tasmania, highlighted by Usher’s 35-point debut at RAC Arena, setting a new record for most points in a Wildcats debut.

Despite the strong start, the Wildcats struggled, losing five of their next six games. A loss to Brisbane led to fans and media calling for a coaching change. MVP Bryce Cotton’s early-season slump compounded the issue, as the new offensive scheme often left him sidelined in crucial moments. Even Cotton’s wife publicly expressed her frustration, generating national headlines.

Following the Brisbane loss, Pinder (13.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.7 steals) confidently predicted the team would win their next five games, sparking a Wildcats resurgence.

After a poor showing in the first seven games, Cotton (22.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.5 steals) snapped out of his slump, scoring 29 points in a win over Adelaide on November 4. This marked the beginning of a strong run for Cotton, including a season-high 41 points in a December victory over Sydney. Over an eight-game stretch from mid-December to January, Cotton averaged 30.4 points, firmly placing him in the MVP conversation.

The Wildcats’ success was also driven by strategic adjustments from Rillie, who moved Usher (12.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists) to a sixth-man role and promoted Hyrum Harris (5.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists) to the starting lineup. Harris brought energy and defensive intensity to the squad, diving for loose balls and grabbing crucial offensive rebounds.

Alexandre Sarr (9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks) also made waves, showing maturity beyond his years. In just his third NBL game, Sarr nailed two late triples against Adelaide after Pinder fouled out. By the end of the season, Sarr had risen up NBA draft boards, with projections placing him as high as the second pick.

Perth’s strong form saw them finish second in the standings (17-11) and return to the playoffs. Cotton claimed his fourth MVP award, moving past Brisbane Bullets legend Leroy Loggins (three) and into outright second place behind Andrew Gaze (seven). However, Perth’s postseason run ended with a semifinal loss to eventual champions Tasmania.

Pinder seamlessly slotted into the Wildcats’ starting five, delivering a dominant presence in the paint with his size and rebounding. He became a fan favourite at RAC Arena, adding several highlight-reel dunks, including a 360-degree slam during the regular season and a poster dunk on Tasmania’s Marcus Lee in the semifinals.

The 28-year-old Pinder averaged 13.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.7 steals in NBL24, setting career-best marks in three-point percentage, three-pointers made, field-goals made, assists, and steals. Pinder reached double figures in 23 of his 31 games and recorded three double-doubles. Despite battling through an injury-plagued pre-season, Pinder’s contributions were recognized as he finished second in the Gordon Ellis Medal count, behind Bryce Cotton.

Keanu Pinder currently plays for the Perth Wildcats and has played 117 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 10.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists since entering the league in 2021.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

Perth Wildcats – 2 Year Deal (2023-25)

HIGHLIGHTS:

Dan Boyce (815 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.