Reply With Quoteheal hangs them up already wow
Heal retires after Boomers win
August 25, 2004
AUSTRALIAN basketball captain Shane Heal has announced his retirement from the sport after Australia won it's last 2004 Olympic game against New Zealand.
Heal, 33, has played 191 games for Australia, played in the American NBA for Minnesota and San Antonio, and won a national basketball league championship with the Sydney Kings.
He confirmed after the Boomers' 98-80 classification match victory over New Zealand this morning to seal ninth spot at the Olympic Games that he had played his last match.
Heal was outstanding for the Boomers, top-scoring with 30 points in a vintage performance.
He was chaired from the court by his teammates after the win.
Heal said his retirement was from both club and international compe ion, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family and pursue business interests.
"I think the time is right for me to finish up and move on to other things and let some younger players come through," Heal said.
"I feel physically like I could play for another four or five years.
"But we've sacrificed a lot over 17 seasons and five seasons overseas, a lot of travel - three months out of the last five we've been overseas.
"It's time to spend with the kids and family now."
Heal played in four Olympic Games, coming out of international retirement to play in Athens at coach Brian Goorjian's request.
He cited playing for Australia as his career highlight, while he will also be remembered for his infamous scrap with one of America's great basketballers Charles Barkley during a pre-Olympics practice match in 1996.
He also scored 28 points against Barkley's Dream Team in that match, including eight three-pointers, then signed with NBA club Minnesota Timberwolves where he played for two seasons.
Heal had stints in Europe and with another NBA club, San Antonio Spurs in 2003.
He also led the Sydney Kings to their first ever NBL championship in 2003.
Heal came out firing today against the Tall Blacks, powering his side to a 48-34 halftime lead - scoring 20 of his 30 points in the first half.
Australia was never in danger of defeat, getting out to a 26-point lead at one point before the Tall Blacks reined in some of the deficit.
heal hangs them up already wow
Someone is abouttt to jump.
Somewhere.
Whottt is crying.
There there whottt.
We all must move on.
Pretty young age for retierment. Best of wishes.
Will the Spurs retire his jersey?
:brotha
What's up with naming a team "The Tall Blacks"? lol
WHOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
What's up with naming a team "The Tall Blacks"? lol
because "The Short Whites" doesn't sound as cool
Shane Heal is a champion. But not as good as Andrew Gaze. Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi oi
Good career. Could made a couple more million, but I guess he's got enough.
talk about a lazy person
33 years old?
Ducks do you have any idea what your on about, Shane Heal is/was and Australian basketball icon, arguably second to gaze, he has done a lot for the sport in our country as well as overseas. He has had a stellar career, which is even more impressive in international compe ion. Where the do you get off.talk about a lazy person
Perhaps you can enlighten me as to why he is lazy, from now on he will steadily decline in many parts of his game most notably his quickness, one of the most important attributes of a 6 foot point guard.
So ducks wtf have you done for the basketball world, because im willing to bet if anything it pales in insignificance compared to the hammer.
At least Heal wasn't afraid to represent his country.
we could have used him this season tbh
better option than Enrique tbh
Cheap, passes to his teammates, hits the open J ....very Unenriquesque tbh
Van Exel is still available...
At this point just sign Ray Allen, have him bring the ball down the court and shoot the three every time.
YES! He is already signed though so too badWhats sad is Ray would probably hit more threes doing that than the Spurs have in the last few games
Ugh, as an Aussie my most hated ever player. A chucker even in the NBL who rated himself way too high.
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