Broekhoff Dives Deep Into Retirement Call

Ryan Broekhoff has made the difficult decision to walk away from the game of professional basketball, but the former Boomer and Dallas Maverick hasn’t ruled out a potential return to the court in the future.

Broekhoff, 32, recently announced his retirement from the professional game following three seasons with South East Melbourne.

He says he’s been mulling over the decision to place a full stop on his illustrious playing career since the back end of NBL23.

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“It’s been on the cards for a few months now,” Broekhoff told SEN. “I told the team after the Perth loss that it was probably my last game, so it’s been on the radar for a while.

“To actually come out and say it was refreshing but I will leave a little bit in there that there’s a crack in the door just in case – you know how these retirements go … I definitely feel like I can still contribute and play at a high enough level, I think the injuries have taken their toll.

“There’s a lot on the plate that I can focus on and a big part of it was how professional basketball fits in with everything that’s going on in life and family and business, and if I’m not 100 per cent committed to something I don’t want to go through the motions and do it.

“I didn’t think I had the time to continue playing on right now.”

Broekhoff became one of South East Melbourne’s most high-profile signings ever when he returned to Australia from the NBA.

Prior to his two seasons with Dallas, Broekhoff spent five successful seasons playing in Europe, which included an All-EuroCup First Team selection in 2018 alongside former Cairns Taipan Scottie Wilbekin.

Broekhoff's Lokomotiv side would go on to lose to Wilbekin's Darussafaka in the competition's championship series.

“That was sort of my breakout professional season,” Broekhoff said of his 2018 season. “We went on a 20-odd game win streak in the EuroCup and were sailing towards the EuroCup championship … and that was around the time of the Olympics and those years.

“I’d say that period of time was probably my best. I don’t think in the NBA I got the chance to really show all I could do in that period, but that’s part of the business of the NBA.

“It’s so tough to get into, and it’s even harder to crack into rotations.

“I worked as hard as I could to reach the highest levels so it’s more so just looking back proud that I was able to work my way to those heights.

“I just look back and I’m proud I was able to achieve those goals I set for myself from a young age.”