NBL 2023: Former Opals star apologises for ‘insensitive’ comment about Cairns Taipans star Keanu Pinder

An NBL commentator has apologised to Cairns Taipans star Keanu Pinder after being called out for making a “disrespectful” comment about the Boomer.

Sydney Kings coach Chase Buford has revealed his temper issues dating back to his youth, but the Kings mentor is determined to be proactive. Photo: Jason McCawley/Getty Images.

Cairns Taipans coach Adam Forde has used his post-game press conference to call out an NBL broadcaster for a commentary slip-up about star big man Keanu Pinder’s background.

While Forde did not name the commentator, he said the reigning NBL Most Improved Player had been “cut” by the words.

Forde was referring to former Australian Opal Jenni Screen, who is part of the commentary team and has since apologised on air to the 27-year-old.

“Just remember where he’s from, Torres Strait Islands, hasn’t had the upbringing that we would have had here in the other areas and Danny Morseu’s worked a lot with him,” Screen said of Pinder during Saturday night’s call of the Taipans’ clash with South East Melbourne.

“It’s going to take time with someone of his calibre and then adding (to) the Boomers lineup that he got this year in ... the Asia Cup, that only adds to him getting some leadership.”

Taipans star Keanu Pinder was ‘upset’ by comments made by a commentator. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Pinder is not from the Torres Strait. He grew up in Derby in the Kimberley region of WA, the son of Indigenous woman Tracey Smith and Perth Wildcats dual-NBL champion Nate ‘Tiny’ Pinder, who was born in the Bahamas.

He was noticed by former Boomer and Indigenous mentor Morseu, who helped him enter the Australian Institute of Sport.

“Tonight, a mention of Keanu’s background and it was highly incorrect and it’s rather disrespectful to him and his family,” Forde said, post-game.

“I’m not trying to throw barbs at anyone, you can write us off, that’s fine, I get that, it’s all good, (but) just Google search, man.

“Just look up where these guys are from when you start.

“It was disappointing. Keanu had a great game and it cuts him a little bit, so I felt like I needed to do that for him and his family.

“He’s upset.”

Taipans coach Adam Forde called out Jenni Screen’s comments after the match. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Screen issued an apology during the call of Perth’s clash with Illawarra.

“Earlier tonight I said something culturally insensitive about Keanu Pinder, which I’d like to correct and apologise unreservedly for,” Screen said.

“I said Keanu was from the Torres Strait, when in fact he is a proud Aboriginal man from Derby and someone who loves representing his family and community.

“To Keanu and his family and anyone I offended in saying what I said, I am deeply sorry and I acknowledge I made a mistake

“I need to be better and again, I apologise for the offence I caused.

“I have the utmost respect for Keanu and what he’s achieved as a person and as a player.”

Pinder led Cairns to an 85-76 victory over the Phoenix with 19 points and eight rebounds.

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Buford reveals plan to manage his ‘short’ fuse

-Matt Logue

The NBL has placed Sydney Kings coach Chase Buford on notice following a series of unsavoury incidents, prompting the Kings mentor to visit a psychologist over the off-season in a bid to manage his “fuse.”

Buford’s first NBL season ended with a championship, but he also attracted the league’s condemnation after breaching the code of conduct on two occasions.

The first came after Sydney’s final round clash against Illawarra when he sensationally used a texta to write “F-!#$%@ suck” on the referees’ locker room door at Qudos Bank Arena after contentious referee decisions in a loss.

Buford then publicly called out referee Chris Reid in his post-game press conference, saying: The Kings will be fine in the first week of the finals against the Hawks as long as Reid isn’t refereeing.

Sydney Kings coach Chase Buford blew up during game two of the NBL Grand Final series between Tasmania Jackjumpers and the Kings, kicking an advertising board. Photo: Steve Bell/Getty Images.

This suggestion, combined with his decision to write expletives on the referees door, prompted the NBL to slap him with a $10,000 fine and a single match suspension that will be suspended until the completion of the 2022/2023 season.

Shane Froling, the dad of Hawks players Sam and Harry, went on Twitter to call out the Kings coach.

“The truth, Sydney too bloody good, Hawks ordinary,” Froling senior tweeted hours after Kings defeated the Hawks in the opening semi-final.

“Refs and call centre inconsistent. The cynic in me says call the ref out at halftime, again at the end of the game and then get a felt pen and write on the refs door that the NBL refs F-!@&%$#S@#k.

“Why? Cause it works. Tarnished.”

Buford was also fined $375 for kicking an advertising board out frustration and causing damage in their Game 2 Finals win over Tasmania.

News Corp understands the Kings coach will have his one-game ban activated if he breaches the league’s code of conduct again this season.

Buford is fully aware of his battle with emotions because it’s a problem that dates back to days as a youth player.

“In all different sports I had an affinity to lose my cool, get in altercations with opponents or the referees,” said Buford, the son of legendary San Antonio Spurs GM R.C. Buford, who helped the Spurs win five NBA championships.

“So, this is not a new problem for me.

“I’ve struggled with controlling myself and my emotions in the field of competition from a young age.

“Now the stakes have got higher (as a coach) and some of those problems have reared their head in ways that I’m not proud of.”

Buford says he’s struggled to control his emotions in competition since he was young and has been seeing a psychologist. Picture: Getty Images.

Buford wants to address his temperament issues, but he doesn’t want any credit for “addressing the obvious.”

He also unloaded on referees during his head coaching stint in the G League with the Wisconsin Herd in 2020.

Buford’s team blew a 21-point fourth-quarter lead to lose the match.

He was so frustrated post-game that he singled out a specific referee as a “f---ing clown.”

Buford concedes he should’ve been more proactive and visited a psychologist about his temper issues before this off-season.

“If I couldn’t recognise that I had some issues to work on that realm then I’d be a pretty in denial person,” he said.

“I’ve spent some good time this summer seeing a psychologist about it (my temper) to try and talk through it and understand myself in those moments and the reasons why I’m acting out like such a child.

“Also trying to understand my own thought process in those moments.

“It has been good, but I still have a lot of work to do on myself and never in life are you a finished product. You can always get better and keep growing.

“I’ve got to be better in those moments when things aren’t going my way. My first reaction can’t be to get so aggressive and barky.”