Two of the NBL's all-time greats, Chris Anstey and Sam Mackinnon, have both announced their retirement from basketball on Monday after each spending 17 years as professionals.
The announcements leave a gaping hole of experience in the Melbourne Tigers' line-up for next season.
Anstey, who spent four years in the NBA playing for the Dallas Mavericks and the Chicago Bulls and four years in the Russian Super League, ends his illustrious career as a three-time NBL champion - once with South East Melbourne Magic (1996) and twice with the Melbourne Tigers (2006, 2008).
He also won the NBL MVP in 2006 and 2008, the 2006 Grand Final MVP, was crowned the 2002 Australian International Player of the Year and represented the Boomers in the 2000 Olympics.
Meanwhile, Mackinnon draws the curtain on his career, which included stints at the Magic, Townsville, West Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, as a two-time NBL championship player with the Magic (1996) and the Brisbane Bullets (2007).
The 33-year-old was also the 2007 NBL MVP and NBL Grand Final MVP, a three-time All-NBL First team member (2000, 2004, 2007), the 2006 Australian International Player of the Year, won the 1994 NBL Rookie of the Year award and competed at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games.
Anstey has been battling hip and back problems since returning from hip surgery in December but is keen to play out the final two matches of the season which will see Melbourne miss the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
"For me it has been a very tough decision, I have been thinking about it for a while but now feels like the right time. I pride myself on my work ethic and my body can't work as hard as I would like or as it needs to be at practice," Anstey said.
"My best moments would have to include the Under 23s World Championships Gold Medal in Melbourne, the Olympic Games and all three NBL Championships."
"The two championships with the Tigers are very special considering the team-mates I shared them with and my role in the team."
"It's also fantastic that I get to share the day with Sam. We grew up playing basketball together, we have been team-mates many times and although our careers took different turns here and there, it's great to be able to share this day with him."
Mackinnon sustained a leg injury during Saturday night's overtime loss to Perth and that may have been his final match as it appears he will struggle to come up for either of the Tigers' final two matches.
"The decision to retire has been building up for the past couple of weeks," Mackinnon said.
"It's a decision that hasn't come lightly but it has been coming for a couple of years. I have had a long career which I have thoroughly enjoyed and I am comfortable in what I have achieved."
"My best memories include the Under 23s World Championships Gold Medal in Melbourne and the Olympic Games."
"The Championships were great and I consider myself very lucky to have many special moments rather than just the one or two standouts."
NBL CEO Larry Sengstock paid tribute to the retiring greats.
"This season has seen the end of an era for the NBL, with first Tony Ronaldson and now Chris Anstey and Sam Mackinnon deciding that it was time to move on and let