Australian basketball great Shane Heal will end a glittering 21-year career with two consecutive wooden spoons, but the four-time Olympian has no regrets.
The 38-year-old is playing his last ever basketball game on Saturday after a lengthy career spanning two decades and stints with at least nine different clubs, both at home and abroad.
Among his many other accomplishments, the three-point specialist has also managed to fit in two previous retirements, although the John Farnham of basketball is adamant this one will stick.
“I do feel a bit like Johnny Farnham on his last tour with all the retirements and comebacks, but I’m looking forward to being able to hang up the boots for good,” he told AAP.
“I feel like I have certainly pushed myself to the limit, but the point is mentally, I’m definitely ready for retirement.
“I’m looking forward to coaching my daughters.”
The father of three will see out his career with a wooden spoon with the Gold Coast Blaze after a final season marred by injury.
But it’s a rare low point for Heal in a career full of highs, including stints in the NBA with Minnesota and San Antonio and leading the Sydney Kings to their first championship.
“It hasn’t been enjoyable, but you just deal with the ups and downs of sport,” he said of his final season.
“I hadn’t ever had a wooden spoon until last year (with the South Dragons), but that’s life.”
The Melbourne native represented Australia 198 times, adding two World Championships to his Olympic campaigns, which he counts as the indisputable highlights of his career.
“I told my dad when I was 12 I was going to play for Australia and to end up captaining (at the Athens Olympics) in 2004 was just a dream,” he said.
“I was lucky enough to play with two clubs in the NBA and other European leagues, but all of that is irrelevant when you’re playing for your country.
“Without a doubt, it’s very special.”
He leaves the game to focus on his retail property business, at a time he concedes is not great for the NBL, which will be re-launched next season after some difficult years.
The Sydney Kings, Brisbane and Singapore departed over the past 12 months, while the Sydney Spirit and Cairns Taipans required financial assistance to remain in the current 2008-09 season.
“Basketball relies simply on the owner’s support, putting bums on seats and sponsorship and it’s a very difficult model to be able to succeed in,” Heal said.
“I don’t know enough about the current climate to make a judgment, but I’m not so pessimistic because we’ve got a great product.”
Heal and the Blaze take on the Hawks at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday.
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