Jack McVeigh switches focus from half-court winner to securing NBL Championship at home against Melbourne United

Tasmania JackJumpers hero Jack McVeigh says he would be lying if he hadn’t thought about what a win in Thursday’s NBL Championship game 4 would mean.

Tasmania JackJumpers vice-captain Jack McVeigh admits he would be lying if he hadn’t thought about lifting the NBL24 Championship in-front of a home crowd on Thursday night.

McVeigh’s half-court three with just 1.8 seconds left on the clock secured Tasmania a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series against Melbourne United with a win in game 4 set to secure the NBL’s newest franchise a title in just their third season in the league.

JackJumpers vice-captain Jack McVeigh at training on Wednesday. Picture: Chris Kidd

A player that has built belief in himself and those around him that he can be trusted in the big moments, McVeigh said it was hard not to wonder what the feeling would be like should the JackJumpers defeat United at MyState Bank Arena.

“Words struggle to express it (what a win would mean),” McVeigh said.

“I’d be lying if I said my mind doesn’t wander right now. It’s the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning and I’m on a minute cycle right now of where I think about the game and how badly I want to win it.

“But I have to rely on the process, get to practice and do the work and fall back on the habits I’ve been building the last couple of years otherwise it can get pretty overwhelming pretty quick.”

With the video of his matchwinning shot going viral online, McVeigh revealed he had removed all social media apps from his phone earlier in the season in a bid to keep his focus on the important things.

“I haven’t been on social media. It’s been deleted off my phone and it’s pretty much on silent and under the bed so that’s how I’ve been dealing with the last couple of days,” he said.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 24: JackJumpers celebrate winning during game three of the NBL Championship Grand Final Series between Melbourne United and Tasmania JackJumpers at John Cain Arena, on March 24, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

“I deleted those (apps) off my phone about six or seven months ago so if I want to go on I do it off my computer, a bit more old school. I try and use the phone as a tool and not let it use me and that can be a lot more difficult that it appears to be.

“The night I made it I definitely watched it quite a few times, more so to check out the reaction of the guys on the bench and the crowd.

“It’s definitely been a weird sensation. I have received messages from people that I haven’t talked to in 10-15 years. It’s been awesome and I’m very grateful for it but it’s also been weird because the shot is irrelevant if we don’t get the job done.

“We have two chances (that includes) a chance to win at home but they (United) are a great team. It’s going to be a dogfight out there and I’m definitely looking forward to when this is all over, hopefully with a trophy, where I can sit back and enjoy it.”