McCarron says farewell after 270 games

After nine years, four clubs, 270 appearances and an NBL championship, Mitch McCarron has officially announced his retirement.

McCarron began his NBL journey with the Cairns Taipans during the 2015–16 season, going on to represent Melbourne United, the Adelaide 36ers and New Zealand Breakers.

“For me, it’s a decision about my body and, I guess, the pain levels and the injuries I’ve tried to play through over the last couple of years,” he told Pete Hooley on NBL Now.

“It’s gotten to a point where I just feel like I need to make a decision for the future, rather than the right now or the next 12 months. I just want to feel good about myself. I want to be able to run around with my kids, and I need to get on top of these injuries.

“Over the last two, two and a half years, I’ve probably just had some issues, mostly on the same side of my body, which is obviously a telling story too. I was overcompensating in a lot of different areas.

“The most recent knee injury in New Zealand has not healed well, or at all. That was a good eight months ago, maybe. So I’m just at the point where it’s time to give my body a chance.”

The 32-year-old reflected on a memorable career, including winning a championship with Melbourne United in 2021.

“It’s hard to go past lifting a trophy. Anytime you do that, that’s why you play. Especially as you get a little bit older, it’s all you want,” McCarron explained.

“Fortunately, I had that really early in my career. My first year in Spain, we won and lifted a trophy. We also won the cup in the middle of the year, so it was like I was lifting two trophies and I was thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, this is great. How good is pro life?’

“Then another one in Slovenia, and then another one with United.

“Excluding national team stuff, strictly speaking club land, there are guys who go through their whole careers and do everything right on an individual and personal level, and never get the chance to lift a trophy.

“So I have to be really grateful just to have played on great teams, with great players and for great coaches.”

McCarron leaves the NBL as a champion, All-NBL Second Team member, captain and ultimately, a wonderful teammate.

“The results and the résumé are going to speak for themselves, both with those Australian tournaments and all of that, and also the success you had in the NBL and overseas as well. But you as an individual, and I could ask a lot of players out there, no one would ever say a bad word about who you are as a person, as a teammate,” Hooley added, having played with McCarron at United.