Cunningham's announcement was made after the Seahawks were knocked out of the Big V Championship finals by Hume City, and ends what has been a highly respected career for the much-loved guard.

Cunningham ended his career with an average of 22 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists per game in his 11 years in Australia, a period that saw Cunningham play every single game for his team, which not many players throughout their career can say they have done, and which Cunningham said shows durability.

Soon after the announcement, tributes began to flow for the player who has had an impact on every opponent, every team mate, and every spectator that had ever seen him play, proving just how important he has been to not just basketball in Warrnambool but basketball throughout Victoria.

"(I retired) for family reasons. I still feel like I could play on if that's what I wanted to do...my reason for stopping is to stay in Warrnambool," Cunningham said following the announcement.

In true Cunningham fashion, the only person that knew going into the match that this could be his last game was his wife Jasmine. Cunningham said he did not want his team to play the game with emotion, and so his announcement was made at the after game function, with a few shocked reactions.

"I think there were a few surprised heads... in the Big V I am well respected," Cunningham said on the reaction to his announcement.

Seahawks Coach Adam Steere was not one of those people that were shocked. He said that the team knew that they would one day be without Bobby, and that his absence makes for what will be a strong turning point for the Seahawks.

"He has been an ornament to the game. He's the type of player no matter where he goes he is the engine room," Steere said of Cunningham, who was also one of the coaches of the Seahawks this year.

"I would go as far to say that Bobby Cunningham is the best ABA player to not go onto play NBL. I think the NBL missed out as a result," Steere said.

Big V Chairman Darryl Neal said that Cunningham will be a huge loss to the Big V, as he still has the ability to play at the Championship level. He said that the work that Cunningham has done in the Warrnambool community and the respect he has earned is enormous, and he hopes that the sport of basketball will not lose him.

"In my view Bobby Cunningham is one of the finest players that ever came into the Big V league without a doubt. He was the best player in the Big V that didn't get a gig in the NBL. In my view he is the Michael Jordan of our league. We hope that we don't lose him to our league and to the sport of basketball in general," Neal said.

Cunningham came to Warrnambool as their import in 1997, and was instrumental in winning the club back to back championships in 1997 and 1998. He said that former Warrnambool coach Lee Primmer was the one that brought Cunningham out from the US and gave him a go, and he is forever thankful for that.

He said that he was also thankful to Sandringham Sabres coach Vince Crivelli, who saved his career in 2004, and was instrumental in improving Cunningham's fitness by helping him to drop whopping 37 kilos in 2005, and going on to win a championship with the Sabres in the same year.

Cunningham will this week be reflecting on a respected career that has seen him in the Big V All Star 5 team for six years (1997 - 2001, 2003), Big V Golden Hands award winner for six years (1997, 1999 - 2003), ABA Golden Hands winner (2002-2003), Grand Final MVP (1998), Big V Leading Rebounder (2001), ABA Leading Steals (2002-2003), ABA Leading Assists (2003 - 2004), ABA Leading Defensive Rebounder (2003), and three championships to detail just a few of his achievements.

Cunningham will be sorely missed by all of those involved in Big V Basketball, and as the tributes continue to flow for arguably the most respected player to ever take the court in a Big V competition, Cunningham has a bright future ahead, continuing his community work in Warrnambool, and watching his own kids excel in their chosen sports.

"It's all about the juniors now for me," he said, and the juniors at Warrnambool are sure to learn a lot from the likes of Cunningham.