NBL25 season review - Keanu Pinder

Pinder, in his second season at the Wildcats, was the team’s second-leading point-scorer with 15.8 per game, up from 13.6 in his debut year.

He started the season with a bang at HoopsFest, scoring 29 points to lead the Wildcats to victory against SEM Phoenix at RAC Arena.

It was one of five games of 25 points or more for Pinder in NBL25.

He also posted eight double-doubles across the season including four in a row late in the Wildcats’ campaign.

His best and most important performance came against the Phoenix during the play-in tournament.

The 29-year-old from Derby put the team on his back in the second half to finish with a career-high 35 points and 11 rebounds at Perth HPC as the Wildcats advanced to the semi-finals in style.

That game included shooting 11 of 13 from the field, a perfect three of three from outside the arc and a massive plus-minus of 35.

Another big outing came in game one of the play-off series against Melbourne United at John Cain Arena.

Pinder was one of the shining lights in a losing cause that night with a 24-point, 11-rebound double-double.

The 206cm talent missed four games due to injury across the season including three in a row in early December before returning with a double-double against his former team Cairns.

He also came off the bench for several games in the second half of the season before forcing his way back into the starting line-up and finishing the season strongly.