McCarron featured for the Boomers as recently as February in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in Traralgon and cited injury management as the deciding factor.
"Essentially, it's a decision for my body and my future," McCarron told ESPN.
"I definitely played through some injuries that, in hindsight, I probably should've sat out for. That's not a shot at any medical staff or anything like that. I always wanted to play and wanted to keep pushing through stuff, even if it was a high pain level. I hated sitting out, and thought I could play through them and maybe rehab them in time off... which I would never take.”
"I always said, if it was more painful than joy to play, then I needed to stop. I think I've reached a point where I had to make a decision: do I want to be healthy and strong to run around with my kids, or try to get back for one or two more years as a pro? I've chosen the first one."
McCarron, originally from Alice Springs in the Northern Territory relocated to Brisbane where he played his junior ball. He was a member of the Australian Institute of Sport (now Centre of Excellence) program in 2010 and accepted a scholarship to play for Metro State in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference from 2012 – 2015.
He is a NBL Champion with his time at Melbourne United from 2018 – 2021 with stints in the domestic Australian league for Cairns (2016 - 2018), Adelaide 36ers (2021 – 2024) and finally with the New Zealand Breakers (2024 – 2025). His professional career spanned internationally as well, featuring for teams in New Zealand, Spain and Slovenia.
The guard played alongside Mitch Creek, Angus Brandt & Jason Cadee in Australia’s first ever FIBA Asia Cup tournament and Championship in 2017. He was named in the All-Star Five in Australia’s 2nd title campaign in 2022.
