BIO: Jack McVeigh was born in Carabita Beach before moving to the Gold Coast, where he attended The Southport School. There, he began playing junior basketball at the age of five for the North Gold Coast Seahawks.

In domestic competition, he led his Queensland team to a runner-up finish at the 2014 National Under-20 Championships, averaging 27.5 points per game on 55 percent shooting and 9.3 rebounds per game. His efforts earned McVeigh the Bob Staunton Medal as the tournament’s most outstanding player, joining a list of past winners that includes Dante Exum and Patty Mills. He averaged 24.3 points and 10.8 rebounds per game playing in the National Under-18 Championships in 2013, including a 41-point effort in the semifinals. McVeigh also visited LSU and looked at Virginia and Boise State before selecting Nebraska. McVeigh received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2013. He spent one year there and played for the program’s state league team.

FAMILY: Son of Peter and Jenny McVeigh, who represented Australia from juniors through to U20s as a teenager herself.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Jack McVeigh made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 22 years of age. He scored two points in his first game.

After narrowly missing out on the NBL championship the previous season, Adelaide entered a rebuilding phase due to the departure of several key players, most notably Mitch Creek, the team’s second-leading scorer. Creek pursued his NBA dream after a lengthy negotiation between Adelaide and Basketball Australia.

During the NBL 2018 off-season, Creek received approval to play in Germany with the understanding that he would return to the 36ers for the 2018/19 season. However, his strong performance overseas caught the eye of the Brooklyn Nets, who signed him to their G-League team. Adelaide responded by filing an injunction to prevent Basketball Australia from approving Creek’s NBA deal without compensation. After some initial backlash, a resolution was reached, allowing Creek to follow his NBA ambitions.

Other significant departures included Shannon Shorter (to Japan), Josh Childress (retired), and Matthew Hodgson (to Brisbane). To fill these gaps, Adelaide signed import Jacob Wiley (via Germany) to replace Creek and added point guard Adris De León to support scoring and playmaking duties. Rising stars Harry Froling and Jack McVeigh were also recruited directly out of college, bringing youthful energy to the team.

Despite these changes, Adelaide managed to retain key players from the previous season, including Nathan Sobey, Majok Deng, Adam Doyle, Brendan Teys, and import Ramone Moore. Leading scorer Daniel Johnson returned and took over as team captain in the absence of Creek.

Adelaide began the season with a loss to Perth (91–99) at home in Round 1 but bounced back with a victory over the Sydney Kings (94–83) on the road. In Round 3, Sobey delivered one of the season’s most notable performances, recording a triple-double (22 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists) in the 36ers’ win over Cairns (91–83).

However, the 36ers then fell into a four-game losing streak, starting with a loss to New Zealand (114–94) and culminating in a narrow defeat to Brisbane (93–90) in Round 4. Key injuries, including a calf strain for Ramone Moore, further disrupted the team’s momentum. After their fourth consecutive loss, coach Joey Wright issued an ultimatum: if the team didn’t turn things around in the next game, roster changes would follow.

De León (11 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists in 25 minutes) started but could not prevent a 12-point defeat to Sydney, resulting in his release (7.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists), and the signing of former Illawarra import Demitrius Conger. Meanwhile, Moore remained sidelined, leading Adelaide to also sign Shaun Bruce, who played out the rest of the season for the 36ers.

Adelaide’s inconsistency continued. After back-to-back wins against Cairns (109–95) and Illawarra (120–109) in Round 7, the 36ers lost a heartbreaker to Illawarra at home (86–87) and followed a victory over Brisbane (101–91) in Round 9 with another loss to Illawarra (90–93).

Despite this rollercoaster season, Jack McVeigh (3.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.7 assists) contributed with several standout performances. His best games included a 12-point, 5-rebound effort in a win against Perth (25 Jan 2019), followed by an 11-point, 7-rebound outing in a tight game against Melbourne United (28 Jan 2019). Another key performance came in a match against Cairns (2 Feb 2019), where he added 10 points and 4 rebounds, demonstrating his potential to impact the game on both ends of the floor.

Adelaide eventually found some rhythm in Round 14, winning four consecutive games, including a crucial victory over Perth (97–84) and a dominant win against Sydney (119–99). However, their inconsistency returned, with losses to Melbourne (114–91) in Round 16 and Brisbane (98–87 OT) in Round 17, ultimately affecting their playoff chances.

Alongside Jack McVeigh’s contributions, Daniel Johnson (17.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) and Nathan Sobey (16.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists) were both named to the All-NBL Second Team. Other key players included Jacob Wiley (12.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1 assist), Demitrius Conger (11.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists), Anthony Drmic (9.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists), and Harry Froling (7.9 points, 4.6 rebounds), who won the NBL Rookie of the Year award.

Adelaide hovered between fourth and fifth place for most of the second half of the season, ultimately finishing equal with Brisbane at 14-14. However, the Bullets advanced to the playoffs due to a higher points percentage, bringing an end to Adelaide’s season in fifth place.

2019/20
Jack McVeigh’s second season with the Adelaide 36ers saw him continue to develop as a versatile forward. Despite team struggles, McVeigh delivered key performances throughout the season, helping Adelaide remain competitive in a tightly contested NBL campaign.

The 36ers had high expectations after reuniting with Jerome Randle, but inconsistency defined their season. They started with a promising 3-1 record, picking up early wins against Brisbane and Cairns, but struggled to find momentum against top-tier teams. Adelaide’s season became a story of missed opportunities, as they faltered in critical moments and couldn’t string together enough wins to secure a playoff spot. A four-game losing streak against South East Melbourne, Melbourne United, Sydney, and Perth exposed their inability to compete with the league’s elite teams.

McVeigh averaged 7.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists for the season, providing valuable contributions off the bench and occasionally stepping into a starting role. His ability to stretch the floor with his shooting and his versatility as a forward made him a reliable option in the rotation.

Some of McVeigh’s standout performances included a 20-point, 8-rebound game against the New Zealand Breakers (31 January 2020), where he shot an impressive 72% from the field and connected on 4 of 6 three-pointers. He followed that with a 16-point outing against Brisbane Bullets (19 October 2019), hitting 7 of 9 field goals and showcasing his efficiency. Another strong showing came against the Perth Wildcats (15 February 2020), where McVeigh recorded 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals, contributing on both ends of the floor.

After a mid-season push, including a morale-boosting win against South East Melbourne in round seven, the 36ers failed to maintain consistency. They dropped crucial games against lower-ranked teams like Illawarra and Cairns, which ultimately cost them a spot in the playoffs. Losses in their final two games to Melbourne United and Perth sealed Adelaide’s fate, leaving them with a 12-16 record and outside the playoff picture for the second consecutive season.

While the team’s overall performance was a disappointment, individual players like McVeigh, Jerome Randle (19.8 points, 4.5 assists), and Daniel Johnson (18 points, 8.3 rebounds) helped keep the 36ers competitive throughout the season. Adelaide finished fifth but missed the playoffs due to a lower points percentage compared to Brisbane, marking another year of unfulfilled potential for the team.

2020/21
After a turbulent end to the previous season, long-time head coach Joey Wright was released amidst player disputes and other issues. He was replaced by former Perth Wildcats assistant Conner Henry. This marked the start of a significant rebuild for Adelaide, with several roster changes. Co-captain Kevin White was granted a release from his contract, and key players Nathan Sobey and Harry Froling departed for Brisbane. Additionally, Obi Kyei requested a release to focus on his clothing line.

Despite these departures, the 36ers retained Jack McVeigh, Brendan Teys, Daniel Dillon, and Alex Mudronja, providing some continuity. On 12 March 2020, the team made a significant announcement with the signing of 18-year-old Josh Giddey under the NBL’s Next Stars program. Giddey had recently become the youngest Australian to debut for the Boomers since Ben Simmons.

Adelaide then focused on rebuilding their frontcourt. On 6 May 2020, five-time club MVP Daniel Johnson signed a new three-year deal, and Isaac Humphries, the 2018 NBL Rookie of the Year, returned from a stint in the NBA on a two-year contract. The team also brought in 25-year-old Keanu Pinder, who had been playing in Europe, on a one-year deal. To further bolster the roster, former Hawk Sunday Dech joined the 36ers on a three-year deal, and the team completed their import signings by bringing in experienced guard Donald Sloan and forward Tony Crocker.

The season began with a tough 65-89 loss against Melbourne, with coach Henry opting to start the young duo of Giddey (18 years) and Humphries (23 years). This led to a lineup change for the second game, where Sloan replaced Giddey at point guard, and Pinder swapped roles with Humphries. These adjustments paid off, as Adelaide defeated South East Melbourne 116-108, with Humphries delivering a standout performance off the bench (25 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks), earning him NBL Player of the Week honors.

However, the early season also saw a setback for Giddey, who suffered a nasty fall during a dunk attempt, leading him to miss the next game on medical advice. Sloan returned to the starting lineup for a rematch against South East Melbourne, but Adelaide lost the game, prompting Sloan to be benched in favor of Giddey for the rest of the season. Despite Sloan scoring a season-high 20 points off the bench, his dissatisfaction with the role saw him granted a mutual release shortly after.

As the season progressed, Adelaide initially looked like playoff contenders, starting with a 4-2 record. McVeigh showcased his scoring prowess, particularly in a match against New Zealand on 27 February 2021, where he scored 20 points, hitting 4-of-4 from three-point range, and added 5 rebounds in a strong offensive showing. Unfortunately, the team’s momentum was disrupted by the introduction of the NBL Cup – a bubble tournament held in Melbourne due to COVID-19. This eight-game stretch saw Adelaide’s form decline as they fell from third to seventh on the ladder.

To attempt a late-season recovery, Adelaide signed former NBA talent Brandon Paul to replace Jeremy Kendle, who had struggled (5.1 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists). However, the loss of Isaac Humphries to injury for the remainder of the season was a major blow, and Adelaide couldn’t regain their early form.

Despite the team’s struggles, Daniel Johnson continued to be a force on the court, averaging 19.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, leading the team in scoring for the sixth time. He was named co-MVP of the 36ers alongside Josh Giddey (10.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.6 assists), who led the league in assists and earned the NBL Rookie of the Year award. Jack McVeigh also had a breakout season, averaging a career-best 9.4 points across 36 games while shooting a career-high 42.5% from three-point range.

McVeigh’s standout performances included a 22-point game against Cairns on 14 April 2021, where he shot 52% from the field, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, and contributed 4 rebounds. He also impressed in a game against Brisbane on 11 March 2021, where he recorded 18 points and 7 rebounds, showcasing his all-around impact.

Despite individual highlights from players like McVeigh, Giddey, and Johnson, the 36ers ended the season with a disappointing 13-23 record, finishing seventh in the league and missing the playoffs.

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS
2021/22
With Jack McVeigh’s contract with Adelaide ending in 2022, he entered discussions with the league’s newest franchise, the Tasmania JackJumpers. Looking to establish a young core, the JackJumpers offered McVeigh a multi-year deal, making it an easy decision for him to move to Tasmania for his fourth NBL season.

The JackJumpers began their debut NBL season with low expectations, with multiple betting agencies offering 400:1 odds of winning the championship. However, in their NBL debut on 3 December 2021, Tasmania defeated Brisbane (83–74) in an overtime victory at home, starting the season with a bang.

After that early win, the newly formed squad struggled to find their rhythm. Heading into round eight, Tasmania had only managed one more victory and sat in ninth place (2-6). Things became more challenging when marquee signing Will Magnay suffered a season-ending injury, forcing head coach Scott Roth to shift the team’s strategy. Moving away from their reliance on perimeter shooting, they adopted a more balanced approach.

This shift paid off as the JackJumpers finished the season with 10 wins from their last 12 games, ending the regular season in fifth place (17-11). However, they weren’t done yet. In a Cinderella-like finish, Tasmania overtook Perth to secure fourth place and a playoff berth, thanks to the South East Melbourne Phoenix defeating the Perth Wildcats in the final game of the season.

McVeigh played a crucial role in Tasmania’s success, averaging 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists while shooting a career-high 91.5% from the free-throw line. His season was highlighted by several standout performances, including a career-best 26-point effort in a thrilling win over Melbourne United in April 2022 as the JackJumpers made a push for the playoffs. In another key game against the Brisbane Bullets on 26 February, McVeigh scored 21 points, shooting 50% from the field and 66% from beyond the arc, while adding 3 rebounds. Additionally, McVeigh delivered 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists in a win over Illawarra Hawks in March, further solidifying his reputation as a key contributor for the JackJumpers.

In the playoffs, Tasmania faced the reigning champions and first-placed Melbourne United in the semifinals. Though they were not expected to fare well, Tasmania defied the odds. After losing game one on Melbourne’s home court (74-63), they evened the series on their home court. Heading into the deciding game three, Tasmania caught a break when United captain Chris Goulding was ruled out due to injury. Tasmania capitalised on the opportunity, defeating Melbourne in a thrilling 76-73 game to advance to the Grand Final series.

On the other side of the bracket, the Sydney Kings swept the Illawarra Hawks to set up a clash with Tasmania in the Grand Final series. Sydney won game one 95-78, but game two saw JackJumpers fan-favorite Josh Adams erupt for 36 points in front of a sell-out Tasmanian crowd. However, Sydney’s trio of Xavier Cooks, Jarrell Martin, and Dejan Vasiljevic proved too much, as they secured a 90-86 win, clinching their 12th consecutive road victory—the most in NBL history.

Dejan Vasiljevic with the ???????????????????????? ????️

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— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) May 8, 2022

Sydney then closed out the series in game three, ending their 17-year championship drought in front of 16,000 fans at Qudos Bank Arena. Xavier Cooks and Jarrell Martin combined for 45 points and 29 rebounds, helping the Kings claim their 19th win from their final 21 games of the season.

2022/23
The Tasmania JackJumpers entered their second NBL season with much of their roster secured through multi-year deals. The only notable departures were import duo Josh Adams, the team’s leading scorer, and MiKyle McIntosh. Fans lamented the loss of Adams, but coach Scott Roth swiftly signed Milton Doyle as his replacement and brought in Rashard Kelly to fill the void left by McIntosh.

With Will Magnay (5.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks) recovering from a foot injury and captain Clint Steindl (4.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.6 assists) sidelined after suffering a knee injury while playing for Australia at the FIBA Asia Cup, the JackJumpers got off to a shaky start. Losses to South East Melbourne (79-84), Cairns (84-106), and New Zealand (65-71) saw them sitting tied for last place with Brisbane after three games. However, they earned their first win of the season by defeating Brisbane in overtime (90-86), thanks to Doyle’s 32 points and 4 assists.

After this win, Tasmania went on a four-game winning streak, propelling them back into playoff contention, where they remained for the rest of the season. Milton Doyle (17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 steals) led the team in scoring, while Jack McVeigh (14.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists) continued to increase his scoring for the fifth consecutive season, emerging as the team’s top local player.

McVeigh had several standout performances throughout the season, including a 28-point, 5-rebound game against his former team, Adelaide, where he shot 58% from the field and 85% from the free-throw line in a 16-point win. He also delivered 22 points and 6 rebounds against Perth in early November and capped off the regular season with 22 points and 10 rebounds against the New Zealand Breakers in February, showcasing his consistency and offensive firepower.

The JackJumpers finished the regular season in fourth place (16-12), securing a spot in the debut NBL play-in tournament. Unfortunately, point guard Josh Magette (10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.0 steals) suffered a facial injury in Tasmania’s final regular season game, requiring surgery and ruling him out for the playoffs.

Despite the absence of Magette, Tasmania overcame Cairns (79-87) in the play-in qualifier, advancing to face second-seed New Zealand (18-10) in the semifinals. Tasmania struggled to score in game one, managing only 68 points—one of their lowest totals of the season. However, Doyle (23 points and 5 assists) led the JackJumpers to a game two victory (89-78) at home, but New Zealand proved too strong in the decisive game three, winning 92-77 to end Tasmania’s season.

2023/24

Was selected as the JackJumpers Most Valuable Player at the end of the season.

"Jack McVeigh. Simply incredible."

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— NBL (@NBL) August 17, 2024

Jack McVeigh played six seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Adelaide 36ers and the Tasmania JackJumpers. He averaged 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1 assists in 186 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (815 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.