Shane Heal, legendary Aussie basketball player for the Australian National Team and NBL, has decided (once again) to retire from professional basketball.

Known for his short temper, feisty play, three-point shooting, and getting in the face of Charles Barkley (more on that later), the 6-0 roughneck point guard will call it a career once the current NBL season comes to a close.

Citing back injuries, the 38-year old Heal has decided that this season would be his last, “My mindset is pretty made up at the moment, that this will be my last season,” Heal told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

“It’s been frustrating this last month, it’s certainly not as enjoyable when you have to play with injury.”

The Gold Coast Blaze signed Heal in late 2008, but Heal’s performance as of late has forced the icon to discontinue playing, “The first 18 games I played were great and I was able to perform but since I’ve hurt my back… I haven’t been able to contribute at the level I’d like to.” he said.

Shane Heal: Player-Coach
Heal’s retirement is technically the second time Shane has retired.  The first time came after he led the Sydney Kings to the franchise’s first NBL championship in 2002-03.  Two years later in 2006, Shane was called out of retirement to assume a player-coach role with a new NBL franchise and his hometown, the Melbourne South Dragons.

After taking over for former NBA-All-Star Mark Price the first season, Heal led the Dragons to the playoffs.  But he was released the next season after the South Dragons accumulated a terrible 4-22 record.  Heal took responsibility for his team’s performance, “I’ve failed this year,” Heal told the AAP.  “We’ve all failed this year. That’s life. Sometimes you have to put your hand up and say you failed.”

Including 2008-09, Shane has played 16 seasons in the NBL, playing in more than 430 games, and has averaged 20.6 points and 6.1 assists throughout his career.  Heal has won an NBL championship with the Sydney Kings, led the NBL in assists twice (1990 and 2002), scored 61 points in a game in 1994, and has twice hit 12 three-pointers in one game.

International and NBA Experience
Shane Heal has participated in four Olympic Games (1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004) representing Australia, and helped the Boomers place 4th when Sydney hosted the Olympic Games in 2000.  But the Hammer, as he is know, made international headlines four years prior ina 1996 Olympic preparation game in Atlanta when the 6-0, 180lb Heal went toe-to-toe with American Charles Barkley

After scoring 28 points against team USA in those Olympics, Heal had offers coming in from six NBA teams.  He would eventually sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves for two seasons, but would only see playing time in 26 games during the 1996-97 season  before being released.

Heal would get another chance at the NBA nearly six years later.  In 2003, when the San Antonio Spurs extended an offer to try out for their championship team. “To play a role on a team like this is a big-time dream, and I’d love the opportunity to be able to go in there and play like I can and prove myself.”

And that constant need to compete, be challenged and the fire within is not only what kept Shane Heal’s career going as long as it has, but it was the reason why he was also such a great player.

Links and Resources: Shane Heal set to Retire (Interbasket), Shane Heal Player Profile (NBL), Shane Heal retires, help lays foundation for success (Basketball.net.au), South Dragons sack Shane Heal as coach (Sydney Morning Herald), Blaze make Heal No.1 signing priority (Goldcoast.com.au), NBA lures Heal Once Again (Sydney Morning Herald)