Next Saturday will mark the end of the careers of two of the most influencial Australian players in the last decade. Centre Chris Anstey (pictured), 35 and guard Sam Mackinnon, 33, both Melbourne Tigers players, are to play their last game when they'll face the Gold Coast Blaze away. Both won a national championship in 1996, were named NBL MVPs (Anstey in 2006 and 2008 and Mackinnon in 2007), besides playing together at the 2000 Olympics and 1998 World Championships. The main reasons for the retirements are the recurrent injuries, and in Mackinnon's case the recent discovery that he had blood clots.Mackinnon spent all of his career in the in Australian league, playing for Melbourne Magic, Townsville Crocodriles, Sydney Razorbacks and Brisbane Bullets, while Anstey had played many years abroad. He had a three-year experience in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls, besides playing in Europe for Ural Great, UNICS Kazan and Cajasol Sevilla.
(O próximo sábado vai marcar o fim das carreiras de dois dos mais importantes jogadores australianos da última década. O poste Chris Anstey (na foto), de 35 anos, e o base Sam Mackinnon, de 33, ambos ao serviço dos Melbourne Tigers, disputarão o último jogo, fora, diante dos Gold Coast Blaze. Ambos venceram um campeonato nacional em 1996, foram MVP da NBL (Anstey em 2006 e 2008 e Mackinnon em 2007), para além de terem disputado juntos as Olimpíadas de 2000 e o Campeonato do Mundo de 1998. A principal razão para os dois abandonos prende-se com as lesões recorrentes e, no caso de Mackinnon, com o facto de ter descoberto recentemente de que padecia de coágulos sanguíneos.
Mackinnon passou toda a carreira na liga australiana, envergando as camisolas de Melbourne Magic, Townsville Crocodriles, Sydney Razorbacks e Brisbane Bullets, enquanto que Anstey passou vários anos no estrangeiro. Teve uma experiência de três anos na NBA com Dallas Mavericks e Chicago Bulls, para além de ter jogado na Europa por Ural Great, UNICS Kazan e Cajasol Sevilha.)
Source (Fonte): heraldsun.com.au
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