Kendal Pinder

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Kendal Pinder

| image =

| height_cm = 203

| weight_kg = 95

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1956|4|25}}

| birth_place = The Bahamas

| highschool =

Hawksbill (Freeport, The Bahamas)
Miami Northwestern
(Miami, Florida)

| college =

East Tennessee State (1975–1976)
Miami Dade (1976–1977)
NC State (1977–1979)

| draft_year = 1979

| draft_round = 5

| draft_pick = 101

| draft_team = Atlanta Hawks

| career_start = 1979

| career_end = 1992, 1995

| career_number =

| career_position = Power forward / center

| years1 = 1979–1980

| team1 = Hapoel Jerusalem

| years2 = 1984–1985

| team2 = Turun NMKY

| years3 = 1985–1986

| team3 = Sydney Supersonics

| years4 = 1987–1992

| team4 = Perth Wildcats

| years5 = 1995

| team5 = Illawarra Hawks

| highlights =

2× NBL champion (1990, 1991)
All-NBL Team (1985)
NBL scoring champion (1985)
Israeli Premier League Top Scorer (1980)

}}

Kendal Nathaniel "Tiny" Pinder (born 25 April 1956){{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/pindeti01.html|title=Tiny Pinder|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=16 June 2022}} is a Bahamian former professional basketball player. He moved to the United States as a teenager and attended Miami Northwestern Senior High School in Florida. Pinder played college basketball for the East Tennessee State Buccaneers, Miami Dade Sharks and NC State Wolfpack. He started his professional career with stints in Israel and Finland; he also spent three seasons with the Harlem Globetrotters.

Pinder moved to Australia in 1985 to play in the National Basketball League (NBL) with the Sydney Supersonics and was selected to the All-NBL Team when he led the league in scoring during his first season. He joined the Perth Wildcats in 1987 and won two NBL championships with the team in 1990 and 1991. Pinder's career was interrupted in 1992 when he was imprisoned for sexual assault offences. He was released in 1995 and had his final basketball stint with the Illawarra Hawks that same year.

Pinder has since spent periods in prison for various offences. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment in 1996 for sexual assault charges involving a teenager. Pinder was imprisoned in 2021 for 15 months after being convicted of stalking a woman. In 2024, he was sentenced to eight years in prison for two sexual assaults that occurred in 2009 and 2021.

Early life

Pinder was born in The Bahamas where he was raised in Nassau and Freeport. He was nicknamed "Tiny" by his grandmother because he was small when he was young.{{cite news |last1=Brubaker |first1=Bill |title=Northwestern's Pinder deadly with catseye or a basketball |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-northwesterns-pinder-dea/143804823/ |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=The Miami News |date=23 July 1974 |page=26 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |last1=Seiden |first1=Henry |title=Dade North's playoff hopes hinge on Pinder |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-dade-norths-playoff-hope/143804827/ |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=The Miami News |date=10 February 1977 |page=34 |via=Newspapers.com}} He was a victim of violence as a child.{{cite web |last1=Zadvirna |first1=Daryna |title=Former NBL basketballer Tiny Pinder apologises to his victims during court hearing for latest rapes |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-09/tiny-pinder-sentencing-hearing-2009-rape-court-/103433920 |website=ABC News |access-date=10 February 2024 |date=9 February 2024}} Pinder fell through a plate glass window at the age of 12 and suffered head injuries that were potentially linked to longstanding cognitive issues. He started playing basketball as a teenager.

Pinder attended Hawksbill High School in Freeport from 1968 to 1972.{{cite news |last1=Brubaker |first1=Bill |title=The strange case of Tiny Pinder |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-the-strange-case-of-tiny/143804844/ |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=The Miami News |date=17 February 1976 |page=21 |via=Newspapers.com}} He was enrolled under the name "Nathaniel Forbes" using his father's surname. Pinder did not attend school for one year.

Pinder moved to Miami, Florida, to earn a college basketball scholarship. He changed his name to "Kendal Pinder" upon his arrival for unexplained reasons. Pinder enrolled at Miami Northwestern Senior High School in 1973 but was declared ineligible to play on the basketball team during his first season because his family did not accompany him during his move. He became eligible for the 1974–75 season where he was a junior in class standing but a senior in eligibility because of the year he missed in the Bahamas. Pinder averaged 19 points per game and led Northwestern to a 25–5 record on their way to a Greater Miami Athletic Conference championship.

A 1976 investigation by The Miami News concluded that Pinder was likely ineligible to play during the 1974–75 season. Northwestern received records from Hawksbill that were "grossly incomplete and, perhaps, inaccurate." Pinder claimed that he was in tenth grade at Hawksbill during the 1971–72 school year which meant that his Northwestern eligibility expired after the 1973–74 school year; a student became ineligible for athletics in Florida four years from the time he first entered ninth grade.

College career

On 29 April 1975, Pinder signed to play college basketball for the East Tennessee State Buccaneers.{{cite news |title=Davila to sign |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-davila-to-sign/143804885/ |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=The Miami News |date=30 April 1975 |page=64 |via=Newspapers.com}} He played one season with the team and then departed because he was not happy with the coach. Pinder chose to transfer to Miami Dade College because he would have been required to sit out a year if he joined another four-year school. He averaged 18.6 points and 12 rebounds per game during the 1976–77 season at Miami Dade.{{cite news |title=State, ECU Land JuCo Stars |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-sun-state-ecu-land-juco-star/143810198/ |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=The Herald-Sun |date=29 April 1977 |page=43 |via=Newspapers.com}}

On April 29, 1977, Pinder signed to join the NC State Wolfpack. He averaged 11.2 points per game from 1977 to 1979.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/kindaltiny-pinder-1.html|title=Kindal Tiny Pinder|work=sports-reference.com|access-date=16 June 2022}}

Professional career

Pinder was selected in the fifth round of the 1979 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1979.html|title=1979 NBA Draft|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=16 June 2022}}

For the 1979–80 season, Pinder played in Israel for Hapoel Jerusalem.{{cite web|url=https://basket.co.il/player.asp?PlayerId=5332|title=קינדל פינדר|work=basket.co.il|access-date=16 June 2022|language=Hebrew}} He was the Israeli Premier League's top scorer, with a total of 586 points scored.{{cite web|url=http://www.safsal.co.il/ptsleader.htm |title=Points Leader |work=safsal.co.il |access-date=2008-12-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922155022/http://www.safsal.co.il/ptsleader.htm |archive-date=2008-09-22}}

Between 1980 and 1983, Pinder performed with the Harlem Globetrotters.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/st-george-shire/kendal-pinder-harlem-globetrotters-nbl-player-charged-with-stalking-and-intimidation/news-story/296ab7a2e37b7979cf9ab04cdd4ed49e|title=Kendal Pinder: Harlem Globetrotters, NBL player charged with stalking and intimidation|work=dailytelegraph.com|date=27 April 2021|access-date=16 June 2022|url-access=subscription|quote=The 203cm tall Pinder – also known as Tiny – performed with the Harlem Globetrotters from 1980 to 1983 before playing in the Australian NBL...}}

For the 1984–85 season, Pinder played in Finland for Turun NMKY. His 32.8 points per game was second in the Korisliiga, while his 14.8 rebounds per game led the league.{{cite web|url=http://www.basket.fi/english/competitions/players/player/?season_id=10133&player_id=1226363&league_id=4 |title=Kendall Pinder |work=basket.fi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115172644/http://www.basket.fi/english/competitions/players/player/?season_id=10133&player_id=1226363&league_id=4 |archive-date=15 January 2016}}

Pinder followed his Turun head coach, Paul Coughter, to the Sydney Supersonics of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) in 1985.{{cite web |last1=Nagy |first1=Boti |title=FLASHBACK 23: The Cannon, April 13, 1985 |url=http://botinagy.com/blog/flashback-23-the-cannon-april-13-1985/ |website=Boti Nagy |access-date=28 November 2023}} He was named to the All-NBL Team{{cite web | url=http://andthefoul.net/NBLwiki/index.php?All%20NBL%20First%20Team | title=All NBL First Team | work=andthefoul.net | access-date=17 February 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918045651/http://andthefoul.net/NBLwiki/index.php?All%20NBL%20First%20Team | archive-date=2012-09-18 | url-status=dead }} and led the league in scoring during his first season.{{cite web|url=http://nbl.gearbox.performgroup.com/nbl-all-time-leaders|title=All Time Leaders|work=NBL.com.au|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923062541/http://nbl.gearbox.performgroup.com/nbl-all-time-leaders|archivedate=23 September 2017}}

In 1987, Pinder joined the Perth Wildcats.{{cite web|url=http://www.nblstats.com/players.php?playerid=10905 |title=Kendal Pinder |work=nblstats.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223080711/http://www.nblstats.com/players.php?playerid=10905 |archive-date=23 December 2007}} He was named the Wildcats' Club MVP in 1989 and helped the Wildcats win back-to-back NBL championships in 1990 and 1991.{{cite web|url=http://admin.nbl.com.au/site/_content/document/00005801-source.pdf |title=Perth Wildcats Fact Sheet |access-date=2009-01-14 |publisher=nbl.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126160548/http://admin.nbl.com.au/site/_content/document/00005801-source.pdf |archive-date=2009-01-26 }} His final season with the Wildcats came in 1992. He was named in the Wildcats' 30th Anniversary All-Star Team.{{cite web|url=http://www.wildcats.com.au/article/id/1cxbazj9qynox119hepd4i378d |title=30th Anniversary All-Star Team |work=Wildcats.com.au |date=4 February 2013 |access-date=16 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211212023/http://www.wildcats.com.au/article/id/1cxbazj9qynox119hepd4i378d |archive-date=11 December 2013 }}

In 1995, Pinder had a five-game stint with the Illawarra Hawks, which marked his final NBL season.

Personal life

Pinder has 12 children.{{cite web|last=Mitchell|first=Rhianna|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/features/foul-play/foul-play-cameron-venditti-reveals-confusion-around-father-kendal-tiny-pinder-c-7092236|title=Foul Play: Cameron Venditti reveals confusion around father, Kendal 'Tiny' Pinder|work=perthnow.com.au|date=12 June 2022|access-date=19 June 2022}} His son, Keanu, is also a professional basketball player.{{cite news|url=http://www.aussiehoopla.com/keanu-pinder-the-boy-from-derby-wa/|title=Keanu Pinder: The Boy From Derby WA|date=7 August 2018|newspaper=Aussie Hoopla}}

Pinder has cognitive impairment in the frontal lobe and possesses the cognitive level of a 14-year-old.

Pinder was granted Australian citizenship in 1986; however his citizenship was revoked in 2007.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-29/tiny-pinder-allowed-to-stay-in-australia-despite-convictions/103160188|title=Tiny Pinder allowed to stay in Australia despite multiple chances to deport ex-Perth Wildcats star and serial sex offender|work=ABC News|date=29 November 2023|access-date=29 November 2023}} Following the cancellation of his Australian citizenship, Pinder was on an ex-citizen visa that enabled him to remain in Australia but did not allow him to return should he leave. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection cancelled his visa in 2017, but it was overturned in 2019 by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal despite acknowledgment that Pinder did not pass the character test. Pinder's visa was again cancelled in 2024.

Sexual assault offences and imprisonment

In 1976, Pinder was found guilty of unlawful carnal knowledge of a teenage girl in Miami, Florida. He was given five years probation.{{cite web|url=https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/tiny-pinder-back-in-jail-ng-ya-362274|title=Tiny Pinder back in jail|work=The West|date=6 December 2013|access-date=5 May 2023}}

In 1992, Pinder faced charges of attempted sexual assault. He was convicted by the Western Australian Supreme Court and was sentenced to 18 months' jail.{{cite web|url=http://decisions.justice.wa.gov.au/supreme/supdcsn.nsf/Library%20Number%20-%20WebVw?SearchView&SearchFuzzy=TRUE&SearchWV=TRUE&Query=kendal%20pinder |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706122857/http://decisions.justice.wa.gov.au/supreme/supdcsn.nsf/Library%20Number%20-%20WebVw?SearchView&SearchFuzzy=TRUE&SearchWV=TRUE&Query=kendal%20pinder |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-07-06 |title=Western Australian Supreme Court Appeal Judgements |access-date=2008-12-05 |publisher=Government of Western Australia }}{{cite news|url=http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=21&ContentID=30235 |title=WA's most controversial moments in sport |author=Liam Phillips |publisher=The West Australian |date=2007-07-04 |access-date=2008-12-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216152910/http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=21 |archive-date=16 December 2008 }} In the following year he was also found guilty of raping a 23-year-old woman and a 16-year-old girl; the three offences had occurred between 1988 and 1990. He was released from prison in 1995. In 1996, he was sentenced to five years' jail for sexual offences involving a 15-year-old girl.{{cite news|title=Ex-Globetrotter draws jail sentence|work=San Jose Mercury News|date=1996-02-01}}{{cite news|title=Tiny Pinder Jailed|publisher=Greensboro News and Record|date=1996-02-01}}

In 2001, Pinder was acquitted in the New South Wales District Court on a charge of raping a 19-year-old woman the previous year.{{cite news|title=NSW: Jury clears Pinder of rape charges|publisher=AAP|date=2001-08-13}} In 2013, he was arrested on a charge relating to an alleged rape in 1987 but was cleared in August 2016.{{cite news|url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/32288378/tiny-pinder-found-not-guilty-of-raping-model-in-80s/|title=Pinder cleared of raping model|date=10 August 2016|access-date=19 August 2016|author=Elle Farcic|newspaper=The West Australian|archive-date=11 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811162438/https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/32288378/tiny-pinder-found-not-guilty-of-raping-model-in-80s/|url-status=dead}}

In 2021, Pinder was arrested and charged with stalking a woman in Sydney. He was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment.{{cite web|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/perth-wildcats/former-perth-wildcat-kendal-tiny-pinder-back-in-jail-after-stalking-charge-ng-b881976747z|title=Former Perth Wildcat Kendal 'Tiny' Pinder back in jail after stalking charge|work=thewest.com|date=21 August 2021|access-date=16 June 2022}} In April 2023, he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault that occurred in November 2009 and March 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-05/former-wildcats-player-tiny-pinder-admits-assaulting-woman/102272312|title=Former Perth Wildcat Kendal 'Tiny' Pinder admits raping woman, allegedly seriously injuring her|work=ABC News|date=5 May 2023|access-date=5 May 2023}} In March 2024, he was sentenced to eight years' prison for the two assaults; the backdated sentence took into account his time in custody and could see him released as early as October 2026.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-21/disgraced-basketballer-tiny-pinder-sentenced-to-eight-years-jail/103613038|title=Disgraced basketballer Tiny Pinder sentenced to eight years' prison over violent sexual assaults|work=ABC News|date=21 March 2024|access-date=21 March 2024}} The judge noted Pinder's impaired cognitive function in deciding his sentence, which had a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment.

Pinder was assaulted in prison in 2021 and 2023, requiring him to undergo CT and MRI scans for his injuries.

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20071223080711/http://www.nblstats.com/players.php?playerid=10905 NBL profile]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20160322164144/http://andthefoul.net/NBLwiki/index.php?Kendal%20Pinder andthefoul.net profile]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20160115172644/http://www.basket.fi/english/competitions/players/player/?season_id=10133&player_id=1226363&league_id=4 Finnish League profile]
[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/kendall-pinder-1.html East Tennessee State statistics]
[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/kindaltiny-pinder-1.html NC State statistics]

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Category:1956 births

Category:Living people

Category:Atlanta Hawks draft picks

Category:Bahamian criminals

Category:Bahamian expatriate basketball people in the United States

Category:Bahamian men's basketball players

Category:Bahamian people imprisoned abroad

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Category:East Tennessee State Buccaneers men's basketball players

Category:Hapoel Jerusalem B.C. players