'Legend of the club': Pinder's tribute to Wagstaff

Pinder recalled his first memories of Wagstaff during a training stint at Perth Wildcats when he was just a teenager.

Now a superstar and one of the premier centres of the competition, returning home to WA after starting his NBL career with Adelaide and Cairns, Pinder said his skipper "meant a lot" to him.

"Jesse means a lot to me, he was here when I was a kid," Pinder told Wildcats Media.

"Coming up and seeing Jesse grow to what he is now from what he was before, he's become a legend of the club.

"Congratulations to Jesse on achieving all the milestones that he's hit already, he's very important to our team and he brings a lot of leadership to our team that we need."

Praise is coming thick and fast for the six-time NBL champion ahead of yet another milestone, with four-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton describing him as "the epitome of what it is to be a Wildcat".

“He’s been the epitome of what it is to be a Wildcat,” Cotton said.

“He was one of the focal points when I came here, when we were rocking as a dynasty and he was here long before that as well.

“I’m very fortunate that I’ve been able to be part of it.”

Young gun Michael Harris also hailed Wagstaff's leadership.

"Jesse's leadership, his guidance, his wisdom that he brings every day and his demeanour helps us all so much," Harris said.

The Wildcats face a tough double-header this weekend, at home against the Hawks on Friday night before a trip to Melbourne to take on South-East Melbourne Phoenix at John Cain Arena on Sunday.

Get your tickets to Friday night's clash here