Ronaldson to retire at season's end

One of Australian basketball's all-time greats, Tony Ronaldson, has announced his stellar 20-year NBL career will finally come to a close at the end of this season.

Ronaldson holds the record for most NBL games played, with his tally currently standing at 662, after stints with the Eastside Spectres, South East Melbourne Magic, Victoria Titans, Perth Wildcats and the New Zealand Breakers.

The man affectionately known as 'The Bear' will be best remembered for his time at the Magic where he won two titles in 1992 and 1996.

But Ronaldson was also a regular member of the Australian national team, playing 208 matches including two Olympics Games (1996 and 2004) as well as the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games where the Boomers won gold.

It was Ronaldson's clutch four-point play against Croatia in Atlanta that earned his country a shot at a bronze medal and while it didn't eventuate and he enjoyed plenty of success in the NBL, Ronaldson nominated representing his country as a career highlight.

"Whether it was the Olympic Games, World Champs, Commonwealth Games or a tour to the (United) States where you play against top sides, it was always an honour to play in the green and gold," said Ronaldson, who played in a total of seven NBL grand finals series.

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

Ronaldson will next be in action against the Wollongong Hawks on Thursday night in what is a crucial match for the Breakers' playoffs hopes.