Pinder out for Round 11

Perth Wildcats star Keanu Pinder will miss the club's Round 11 games against the Illawarra Hawks and Adelaide 36ers with illness. 

Pinder played just 15 minutes in last Friday’s game against Brisbane and missed Sunday’s contest with New Zealand, and is yet to fully recover. In better news for Perth, Tai Webster will return from a hamstring injury.

“Keanu Pinder is still battling illness,” coach John Rillie said via The West Australian. 

“I think he’s close but it’s precautionary. Being around the group - you’ve seen what Brisbane went through so we are very mindful of everyone else in the group. We’re hopeful but we’re also pretty mindful of everyone else.”

🚨 TEAM UPDATE 🚨

Keanu Pinder will remain sidelined (illness) for both of our Round 11 games this weekend vs. Illawarra Hawks at RAC Arena tomorrow evening and our Sunday away game vs. Adelaide 36ers. He will be replaced on the roster by DP Dontae Russo-Nance.

Tai Webster… pic.twitter.com/QAZN7PoUHu

— Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) December 5, 2024

An illness swept through the Bullets’ camp last week, with coach Justin Schueller even throwing up before last Friday’s game. 

Rillie is confident youngsters Izan Almansa and David Okwera can continue to step up in Pinder’s absence.

“Izan’s progress over the last few month has been tremendous and David Okwera’s minutes have been very productive,” Rillie said. 

Tip-off between the Wildcats and Hawks is 9:30pm AEDT on Friday night on ESPN.