“Yeah, that’s my Mum,’’ Doyle says with a laugh. “My mum has been with me every step of the way. That’s her little hashtag, she’s definitely proud.’’

The 28-year-old 193cm guard, who has been hailed by JackJumpers coach Scott Roth for his “unselfish play” and “versatility” and has proved to be a solid addition to the team so far, is keen to help the JackJumpers have a stellar season, following on from the team’s impressive inaugural season last year.

Doyle believes all his basketball experience to date – including 10 games for the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA (and a further 81 games between the club’s affiliate G League team Long Island Nets and Chicago Bulls G League team Windy City Bulls) as well as stints in Spain, Italy and Turkey – will set him in good stead for helping the JackJumpers secure their first championship win, with old and new players hungry for success after the team came so close last year as grand final runners-up.

Doyle has been playing basketball for as long as he can remember, but as a child growing up in Chicago, Illinois, he never imagined he’d one day end up playing the sport professionally.

He was born on Halloween (October 31) into the middle of a family of 10 children – he has six brothers and three sisters – so there was always someone around to shoot hoops with.

“I didn’t think I was going to play basketball professionally,’’ Doyle says. “I just played for fun, because that’s what kids were doing in the neighbourhood. My mum played basketball and my dad played basketball and we lived right across the street from a basketball court, so I was able to shoot all day and all night.

“I’m the only one (of my siblings) who really took it seriously – we all played growing up, but I’m the only one who played organised basketball. They just did it for fun in the neighbourhood.’’

It wasn’t until Doyle got to college, where he played for the Loyola Ramblers, that he realised

sport was something he might be able to seriously pursue.

“In the last years of college, I figured out that I can probably do this for a career and not work a (traditional) job and travel the world and actually just enjoy doing what I love,’’ he says.

“I really didn’t have a plan. I was just figuring things out and seeing where life would take me. I like community work, and things like that, so I was probably going to coach if things didn’t work out for me playing basketball.’’

The opportunity to come to Australia and play for the JackJumpers as part of the National Basketball League was too good to refuse.

Doyle had been following the team with interest last season – as some of his teammates in Turkey had previously played with JackJumpers star import Josh Magette and were following his progress with the newly-formed club online.

And having spent much of the previous two years living apart from his wife and two young children – Covid restrictions and his location in Turkey meant Doyle’s family visited him for only a couple of months during each season and spent the rest of the time in the US – coming to Australia seemed like a far better option.

“The past two seasons have been a little crazy,’’ he explains.

“This year I wanted to go to a place that was a bit more Americanised where it would be easy to transfer over my family. It’s our first time out here (in Australia), so we’re just getting familiar with everything.

“It’s been great so far, there are no complaints from me.’’

His children, daughter Makynli, 7, and son Mase, 4, were most excited about meeting kangaroos. So. one of the first things the family did after arriving in Tasmania was visit an animal park to get up close to some of Australia’s fascinating wildlife.

Doyle and childhood sweetheart Keyara married surrounded by family in Chicago in July, just a few weeks before arriving in Tasmania. The day was even more special as their kids were able to be involved in the celebrations – Makynli was a flowergirl and Mase was the ring bearer.

“We’ve known each other since … I can’t even remember what age,’’ Doyle says of his wife, who he described as “the most beautiful bride ever”.

“We were young kids, our families are close, and we’ve been around each other since we were probably 10 or 11 years old. We grew up in the same neighbourhood, we started dating around 16 or 17.

“We’ve been on the same journey for years, going through ups and downs in all aspects of life together, but this is the best moment (being married) because we are now on the same journey for life.’’

The family has an apartment in the centre of Hobart, close to parks and other amenities.

Doyle’s daughter is being home schooled, as he was reluctant to enrol her in a school so close to the end of the Australian school year. But he’s hopeful that if his first JackJumpers season is a success he’ll be invited to stay longer and then the family can put down more roots.

“Hopefully I can be here a little bit longer. It’s obviously up to Scott and his coaching staff but hopefully they keep me little bit longer,’’ Doyle says.

“I’d definitely like to be here for an extended period of time, as long as they want me here.’’

And the initial signs are promising.

Teammate Josh Magette, who was this year added to JackJumpers leadership team along with captain Clint Steindl and vice-captain Jarrad Weeks, says Doyle and fellow import Rashard Kelly had proved to be a good fit for the JackJumpers so far. “They’re great,’’ he enthused during the NBL pre-season blitz in Darwin.

“They fit in seamlessly. They’re true pros, they bring it every single day and they want to win – at the end of the day that’s what’s fun to be around. I think we’re still scratching the surface with them, I think we’re only going to continue to grow and build our chemistry from here.’’

Doyle, who actually played against fellow import Kelly in college, says he feels the same way. “It’s easy to fit in with these guys,’’ he says.

“They’ve built chemistry over the last year, coming in we don’t have to do a lot, me and Rashard, it’s easy for us to do our job because it’s not a selfish team, everyone just let’s us play our role and do our job. I feel great, I think we’ve built a little bit of team chemistry.’’

Doyle made his NBA debut with the Brooklyn Nets in December 2017, scoring two points in a single minute of action during a game against the San Antonio Spurs. But he spent much of the season with the club’s G League team where he averaged 20.5 points, 5 rebounds and 4.4 assists, earning a name as one of the league’s more versatile players.

In September, 2019, Doyle signed a partially guaranteed deal with the Chicago Bulls. He was assigned to their G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, and during the shortened 2019–20 season averaged 17.5 points, 5.8 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 2 steals per game, shooting 40 per cent from the field and 36 per cent from three-point range.

His performances have continued to improve and, unlike some players whose careers are plagued by injury, Doyle is thankful his body has been “taking care of me pretty well’’ and is hopeful for a successful, injury-free season with the JackJumpers.

He knows JackJumpers fans are hungry for success, after the team exceeded all expectations last year and made finals in the first year. And he says that enthusiasm from fans helps motivate him to do well.

Doyle loves the feeling of being on the court, playing the game he loves, in front of thousands of passionate, cheering fans. He was excited to be the first JackJumper to score in the first NBL23 pre-season match against South East Melbourne Phoenix in Ulverstone last month. And Doyle (#25) was instrumental in clinching the JackJumpers’ first win of the regular season against Brisbane Bullets at MyState Bank Arena on October 9, scoring an impressive 32 points as he led his team to a gutsy 90-86 overtime win. Doyle and his teammates also put on an impressive show in Adelaide on Thursday night, securing a 97-72 win over the Adelaide 36ers, with Magette (23 points), Kelly (19 points) and Doyle (16 points) the standout performers.

“I think it’s just encouraging (that JackJumpers fans are so hungry for another successful season),’’ Doyle says. “I think in basketball there is pressure, but there’s also no pressure because it’s something I’ve been doing forever, it’s kind of like a natural reflex, you’re just doing your job every day.’’ And he hopes his wealth of experience from various parts of the world will culminate in a successful debut season with the JackJumpers.

“Just getting a little bit of a view from different countries and styles of basketball and being able to play at home at the highest level … I think that set me on the right track to come here and hopefully have good season,” Doyle says.

“I’ll just try and get some wins and help the team out in any way possible. I know you guys are used to winning, so I’ll try and help out with that.’’

The next Tasmania JackJumpers home game is at MyState Bank Arena on Saturday October 22 at 8pm against Perth Wildcats. The JackJumpers also play away games against Melbourne United on Sunday October 16 at 2pm and New Zealand Breakers on Sunday October 30 at 2pm. For the full fixture and for ticketing and streaming information visit jackjumpers.com.au