'I like it': Pinder embraces the mask

Coming off his best game as a Wildcat in Tuesday's NBL Blitz victory over Adelaide, Pinder opened up about his right eye orbital fracture playing for Cairns last season and the protective mask he's worn ever since.

“I like it. It’s giving me a hidden identity. Kind of like a villain,” Pinder told The West Australian.

“It’s precautionary to keep me safe. It was a pretty bad injury. It was very bad at the start. I couldn’t see for two weeks. It was a blur out of my right eye. It was super red for long time, probably a couple of months.”

Pinder confirmed he will play out his career wearing the mask in the hope avoiding a similar injury.

The imposing centre took a significant step forward against the 36ers, dropping 17 points - including 11 in the first quarter - to go with four rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block.

It comes after an interrupted off-season for the West Aussie, suffering a groin injury at Australian Boomers training which saw him miss both clashes against NBL1 West Select 

The undefeated Wildcats take on New Zealand in their final game of the pre-season tournament on the Gold Coast on Thursday.

The Wildcats' season opener is against Tasmania at RAC Arena on September 29 with tickets available via Ticketek.