Perth Wildcats star Jo Lual-Acuil gives away his shoes to Harry Pinner during first quarter against TasmaniaCraig O’DonoghueThe West AustralianSat, 22 November 2025 2:28PMCommentsCommentsEmail Craig O’Donoghue
Perth Wildcats star Jo Lual-Acuil gave a nine-year-old who was attending his first game of basketball the thrill of a lifetime when he handed him his shoes just minutes into Friday night’s win over Tasmania JackJumpers at RAC Arena.
Lual-Acuil started the game in grey shoes but moved towards the bench in the opening minutes and asked injured guard Jaron Rillie to return to the locker room and bring him a blue replacement pair.
The star big man then got subbed out after nearly four minutes to change his shoes, spotted a young boy sitting in the front row, called him over and handed him the other pair.
Nine-year-old Harry Pinner had never been to a NBL game before and couldn’t believe his luck.
“When I picked him up from school he said it was the best day of his life and we hadn’t even got here yet,” his mum Candice said.
“It’s the first game he’s ever been to. He had his first violin recital at school, then got to watch the Ashes at school and now he’s at the Wildcats and has been given Jo Lual-Acuil’s shoes. It’s crazy.
“These shoes will mean a lot to him. They’ll go on his desk with all of his other sporting memorabilia. We came to the Harlem Globetrotters and he has basketballs signed by them. He’s also got his two Eagles guernseys. He loves sport.”
Lual-Acuil scored 19 points and won eight rebounds in Perth’s win over the JackJumpers and will face his former club, Melbourne United, for the first time on Sunday.
The star big man won a NBL championship with United and the Wildcats will be hoping he’s at his best as they take on the ladder leaders for the first time this season.
“Sunday will be a great challenge to really see where we are at,” Wildcats coach John Rillie said.
“We’ve got to tidy up some things if we want to get to that championship level.
“They’re playing at a phenomenal level. They’re the best team in the league. But, like most of us, they are dealing with injuries and bringing guys in and out. They had a tough game (against Illawarra on Friday).
“We’ll prepare like we do for any other team. We’ve got to go in there with a nice edge about ourselves, and see where we are really at. It’s more about us and where we sit right now against the best team in the competition.”
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