Basketball: Ronaldson announces retirement

Breakers forward Tony Ronaldson has played more than 600 games in the ANBL. Photo / Getty Images

Retiring record-holder Tony Ronaldson will end his remarkable 20-year stint in the National Basketball League after this season, giving his New Zealand Breakers team extra incentive as they battle to stay in the play-offs race.

The 37-year-old, whose career stretches 20 years, 662 games and includes seven NBL grand finals and two NBL championship wins, said it was hard to pick a career highlight, but that representing his country had been special.

"Whether it was the Olympic Games, World Champs, Commonwealth Games (gold medal) or a tour to the States where you play against top sides, it was always an honour to play in the green and gold," Ronaldson said.

"And of course winning two ANBL championships and hoping there is one more yet with the Breakers, they are the best memories of playing in this league."

When asked to nominate those who have been pivotal to his career, Ronaldson would not single people out.

"There are too many people to name. The reason I played for so long is down to the relationships I have made," he said.

"Whether or not the friendship is maintained on a daily basis is not the point. Once you have been on a team with someone you might not see them for 20 years but when you do it is like only a day has passed by."

Ronaldson said he had no idea his career would prove so lengthy when he started out at 17.

"My first contract was for $15,000 and no, I never knew where this thing was going, at that stage it was purely about playing as the money didn't support you," he said.

"My goals then were making the Aussie team and playing well each game, I certainly didn't think of a 20-year career. I can be very satisfied at the time I have had in the game, few get to play as long as I have, I'm lucky."

Ronaldson said he was unsure what his next move would be.

"I've had one job in my life, I am going into the unknown but as with basketball I back myself to pick something up and run with a new challenge, I am excited about that."

Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis was fulsome in his praise of the veteran player.

"I actually played alongside Tony at the South East Melbourne Magic and have since had the pleasure of coaching him of course with the Breakers," Lemanis said.

"The thing that most impresses me about Tony, aside from the obvious stats that he has put up in his career, has been his ability to reinvent himself and find ways to contribute to different teams in different ways.

"He is clearly not the player he was when he debuted 20 years ago as a raw 17-year-old but his ability to adapt to each environment he has been in and mature as a player and a person has been enormous, and has kept him in the game when others have since long departed."

Ronaldson remains concerned about the struggling league's future, saying it must find a way to thrive and grow again.

"The question comes up every year but we seem to survive. But we can't just keep on doing that, we need to flourish," said Ronaldson.

"I believe the sport is a great sport and there's no reason why it can't be one of the major sports.

"We're not going to just disappear off the map."

Ronaldson said gaining a stronghold in the NBL's lost markets of Sydney and Brisbane, and encouraging youth participation, were key to basketball's future in Australia.

"Hopefully we can start to rebuild and get a team in Sydney and Brisbane. I think those two marketplaces are vital to the success of this league," he says.

"There's definitely a (strength) as far as participation levels goes with basketball...we just need to tap into those kids who play the sport to come along and support it and I think you'll see basketball will flourish.

"There's not too many sports in this world that enable you to do the things that basketball can."

Ronaldson will suit up at home on the North Shore at least twice more, starting this Thursday against the Wollongong Hawks.

Tony 'The Bear' Ronaldson

Date of Birth: May 25, 1972
Height: 203cm
Birth Place: Adelaide, South Australia

NBL Clubs: Eastside Spectres 1990-91; South East Melbourne Magic 1992-98; Victoria Titans 1999-2002; Perth Wildcats 2003 - 2007; NZ Breakers 2008 - current

International Career
1996 Olympic Games
2004 Olympic Games
2006 Commonwealth Games (co-captain, gold medal)

- NZPA, AAP