JackJumpers championship hero determined to crack NBA despite Houston Rockets setback
Title-winning Tassie JackJumper Jack McVeigh has shut down NBL homecoming links after the Houston Rockets waived him, revealing he is pursuing multiple NBA opportunities.
Basketball
Don't miss out on the headlines from Basketball. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Title-winning Tassie JackJumper Jack McVeigh has shut down NBL homecoming links after the Houston Rockets waived him, revealing he is pursuing multiple NBA opportunities.
The rumour mill sparked up on Monday when news broke that the Rockets are releasing McVeigh, opening the door for him to enter free agency.
The 2024 JackJumpers championship star would seamlessly fit back into the NBL, but he told Code Sports he still has NBA ambitions.
“I’m going over to America and giving that another crack,” McVeigh, 29, said.
“I’d consider the NBL again one day for sure, but right now my focus is NBA.
“My whole life has been A plan and don’t create a B plan, so that is the goal right now.
“I’m in free agency, so my agent is working his thing and I’m in some cool conversations with some different teams.
“We’ll see how that pans out.”
McVeigh had an “unbelievable experience” with Houston, despite his disappointing departure.
He signed a two-way deal with the Rockets in July 2024, just months after leading the JackJumpers to their maiden NBL title as the Championship Series MVP.
McVeigh played nine NBA games for Houston, averaging just 4.8 minutes a game.
He enjoyed greater success with the Rockets’ second-tier G League side the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, averaging 15.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game across 37 appearances.
He says it was inspiring seeing the daily habits of Houston’s NBA veterans like Steven Adams, Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet.
“All three players have their own unique skills in IQ, physicality and leadership,” he said.
“I was taking notes the entire time.”
McVeigh revealed he plans to make himself available to play for the Boomers at the Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia in August.
Basketball Australia is aiming to name of its strongest Asia Cup squads, including fringe NBA talent.
McVeigh is certainly keen to don the green and gold.
“Oh definitely – that is the goal,” he said.
“Hopefully I’ll be there and doing what I love, which is representing Australia.
“I’m never going to turn that opportunity down if I get the chance to play.
“For me, playing at the Olympics was one of the great joys of my career, so if I can be a part of more big tournaments and windows, then I’m going to take it.”
Jack McVeigh makes his NBA debut ðŸ˜pic.twitter.com/lwPhFM58Zw
— NBL (@NBL) November 7, 2024
McVeigh is coming off what he openly describes as the “best year of my life”.
From winning an NBL title with Tasmania to making his Olympic debut with the Boomers, securing an NBA deal and marrying his long-term partner Beth, 2024 will go down as a memorable one for the boy Cabarita Beach on NSW’s north coast.
“It was a crazy year,” he said.
“From one thing onto the next and the next, it didn’t stop and it was all win after win. It was madness.
“It’s definitely a year I’ll remember forever.”
As for his secret to success, McVeigh says a combination of factors has led to his remarkable rise via a three-club NBL journey that started with a stint at the Adelaide 36ers in 2018.
“There are so many factors,” he said.
“I try and write about what I think it is that has made me successful and pass that onto the kids, but if I knew exactly I could package it up and sell it for a million dollars.
“There are so many things from great mentors, family, hard work, a little bit of luck when a ball goes in and the right situation at the right time.
“It made me think, ‘whoever is looking after me is doing a pretty great job right now’.”
More Coverage
Originally published as JackJumpers championship hero determined to crack NBA despite Houston Rockets setback
Watch: The moment Toohey knew he would be a Warrior
It doesn’t get much better than this. It’s NBA draft night and the general manager of Golden State is on the phone. This is what happened when Alex Toohey learned he was off to San Francisco.
NBA star says ex vowed to end his career
Renowned NBA pest Dillon Brooks claims his ex-partner threatened to end his basketball career with an act of insane violence.