Basketball Australia Chief Executive officer Larry Sengstock issued the following comments following the announcement early today of the retirements of OAMPS Melbourne Tigers veteran superstars Chris Anstey and Sam Mackinnon.

“This season has seen the end of an era for the NBL, with first Tony Ronaldson and now Chris Anstey and Sam Mackinnon deciding that it was time to move on and let the new generation of Australian stars move into the spotlight,” said Sengstock. 

“As a league we owe a great debt to these three champions.  They all represented Australia tirelessly on the world stage and provided fans with some amazing memories during their time in the NBL.  Whether you barracked for them or against them, they were always worth watching when they stepped onto the court.  

“A lot of players go through their entire careers without winning a championship, but these three achieved a remarkable record of success in the NBL.  They will be missed and we hope to find a way to keep them all involved in the league in some capacity.

“Their retirement however also marks the dawn of a new era for the NBL,” Sengstock continued.  “It’s now time for the next generation of stars – the likes of Mark Worthington, Daniel Johnson, Stephen Weigh, Thomas Abercrombie and Adam Gibson – to shoulder the burden as marquee stars in the league.  It’s an exciting time for Australian basketball and I can’t wait to find out just who steps up to the plate in the years ahead.”