Keanu Pinder

Keanu Pinder (born 28 May 1995)[1] is an Australian professional basketball player for the Cairns Taipans of the National Basketball League (NBL).

Keanu Pinder
Pinder with the Cairns Taipans in 2022
No. 25 – Cairns Taipans
PositionForward
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 school
College
NBA draft2018 / Undrafted
Playing career2013–present
Career history
2013Lakeside Lightning
2015East Perth Eagles
2018–2020Legia Warszawa
2020–2021Adelaide 36ers
2021–presentCairns Taipans
2022Northside Wizards
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Australia
FIBA Asia Cup
2022 Jakarta

Early life and career

Pinder was born in Derby, Western Australia, to an Indigenous Australian mother from the Kimberley region[2] and a Bahamian father. He grew up in Perth where his father, Kendal, played professionally for the Perth Wildcats in the National Basketball League.[3] Pinder played both basketball and Australian rules football until his teenage years when he decided to focus on basketball solely.[4] He attended Chisholm Catholic College in Perth before transferring to Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kansas, for his senior year.

Pinder was 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]

College career

Pinder began his college career with Hutchinson Community College in 2014 before switching to the University of Arizona in 2016.[7] As a senior in 2017–18, he averaged 2.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per game.[8]

Professional career

After graduating from college, Pinder moved to Poland where he played two seasons for Legia Warszawa in the PLK.[9] He averaged 7.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in the 2019–20 season.[10]

On 17 July 2020, Pinder signed with the Adelaide 36ers for the 2020–21 NBL season.[10][11] He averaged 4.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in 35 games in his first NBL season.[12]

On 19 July 2021, Pinder signed a two-year deal with the Cairns Taipans.[13] 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.[12] In the 2022 off-season, he played for the Northside Wizards of the NBL1 North.[14] In 2022–23, he averaged 16.9 points and 9.3 rebounds in 19 games before injury cut his season short. He was subsequently named NBL Most Improved Player for the second straight year, becoming the first player in league history to win the award twice.[12]

National team career

Pinder represented Australia for the first time at the 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in the Czech Republic.[15][16]

In 2015, Pinder played for the Australian University National Team at the World University Games in South Korea.[17]

In 2022, Pinder won gold with the Boomers at the FIBA Asia Cup in Indonesia.[17]

References
  1. "Keanu Pinder International Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  2. Athletic Route to Div I – Pinder takes the road less traveled to achieve his long term ambitions
  3. Keanu Pinder - Son of a Gun
  4. Keanu Pinder: The boy from Derby WA
  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. Australian forward Keanu Pinder 'can't wait' to join Arizona Wildcats
  8. Pascoe, Bruce (22 August 2018). "Former Arizona Wildcats forward Keanu Pinder signs with Polish pro team". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  9. Cauchi, Orazio (22 August 2018). "Legia Warszawa signs rookie Keanu Pinder". Sportando. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  10. "Adelaide 36ers Sign Keanu Pinder". adelaide36ers.com. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  11. "Keanu Pinder Signs With 36ers". nbl.com.au. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  12. "Taipans takeover NBL Awards". taipans.com. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  13. "Taipans Sign Keanu Pinder". NBL.com.au. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  14. "NBL1 North PLAYER ANNOUNCEMENT⁠". facebook.com/northsidewizards. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  15. Emus to play for medal in basketball championships
  16. Pinder to represent Australia
  17. "Keanu Pinder". australiabasket.com. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
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