BIO: Josh Magette was born in Birmingham, Alabama (USA)

NBL EXPERIENCE

Josh Magette made his NBL debut with the Tasmania JackJumpers at 32 years of age. He scored 19 points in his first game.

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS
2021/22
The Tasmania JackJumpers entered the NBL as the league’s newest expansion side under former Perth Wildcats assistant Scott Roth, who assembled the inaugural roster around imports Josh Adams and MiKyle McIntosh alongside Will Magnay (via Perth), Jack McVeigh (via Adelaide), Sam McDaniel (via Melbourne), Clint Steindl (via Perth), Jarrad Weeks (via Sydney), Fabijan Krslovic (via Cairns) and Jarred Bairstow (via Perth). Expectations were low, with multiple betting agencies offering 400:1 odds on Tasmania winning the championship.

A cerebral left-hander with extraordinary handles and unlimited range, Magette (via Darüşşafaka) signed a one-year deal on July 28 to become Tasmania’s pass-first point guard alongside fellow imports Adams and McIntosh. Magette arrived after playing in Turkey and spending time with the Team USA Select Team ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, having previously played 26 NBA games with Atlanta and Orlando.

Tasmania opened its first NBL season against Brisbane at MyState Bank Arena on December 3, where Magette (19 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) started and played 37 minutes as the JackJumpers defeated the Bullets 83-74 in overtime in front of 4,738 fans. Adams (20 points) and Magnay (10 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks) provided support, while Sobey (24 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) was Brisbane’s best.

Magette (11.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.4 steals across 34 games) became Tasmania’s floor general, starting all 28 regular-season games and all six playoff games and not missing a game through injury or illness. After the opening win, Tasmania struggled to find consistency and sat ninth with a 2-6 record heading into round eight before Magnay suffered a season-ending knee injury. Roth moved the JackJumpers away from their reliance on perimeter shooting towards a more balanced approach and Tasmania responded by winning 10 of its final 12 regular-season games. “Our togetherness is as good as any team I’ve been a part of,” Magette said.

One of Magette’s strongest early performances came against Perth at RAC Arena on December 19, where Magette (17 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists) led Tasmania despite the Wildcats winning 101-83. Adams (15 points) was the JackJumpers’ other leading scorer, while Law (32 points and 12 rebounds) led Perth.

Against Adelaide at MyState Bank Arena on January 28, Magette (16 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals) helped Tasmania recover from a 12-point deficit to win 76-71. Adams (24 points, 5 assists, and 4 steals) led the scoring and Magnay (8 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks) controlled the paint, while Hannahs (22 points) was Adelaide’s leading scorer as the JackJumpers improved to 3-6.

Two days later, Magette produced his best game of the season against New Zealand at MyState Bank Arena, making seven of 11 three-pointers and finishing with 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists without committing a turnover as Tasmania defeated the Breakers 83-59 for consecutive victories. McVeigh (17 points and 6 rebounds) and Adams (11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) provided support, while Besson (19 points and 8 rebounds) led New Zealand as the JackJumpers improved to 4-6.

Adams (17.5 points and 3.3 rebounds across 34 games) led Tasmania in scoring and received All-NBL Second Team honours before winning the JackJumpers’ inaugural club MVP, while McVeigh (12.2 points and 4.8 rebounds across 33 games), Steindl (9 points across 34 games), McIntosh (8.7 points and 3.8 rebounds across 34 games) and Magnay (7.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks across 11 games) were the other major contributors. Magette finished second in the NBL in assists and third in Tasmania’s MVP voting, while McVeigh was voted Fan Favourite, Kenyon (3.6 points and 3.5 rebounds across 32 games) received Defensive Player of the Year, Krslovic (4 points and 3.9 rebounds across 33 games) received the Coaches Award, Weeks (3.4 points across 33 games) received the Players Award and Roth was named NBL Coach of the Year.

Tasmania closed its scheduled regular season against first-placed Melbourne at MyState Bank Arena on April 23, where Magette (14 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists) made three three-pointers as the JackJumpers won 83-61. McIntosh (20 points) and Adams (19 points) led the scoring, while Agada (22 points and 8 rebounds) was Melbourne’s best as Tasmania completed a run of 10 wins from its final 12 games and finished its schedule with a 17-11 record. The JackJumpers still needed Perth to lose its final game to reach the playoffs, and South East Melbourne defeated the Wildcats 102-100 in overtime the following day, ending Perth’s 35-year playoff streak and moving Tasmania into fourth place on points percentage.

Game one of the semifinals moved to John Cain Arena, where Magette (5 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) started as defending champion Melbourne defeated Tasmania 74-63. Adams (16 points and 5 rebounds) and McVeigh (15 points and 4 rebounds) led the JackJumpers, while Agada (16 points and 7 rebounds) and Lual-Acuil Jr (15 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 blocks) led United.

Game two returned to MyState Bank Arena, where Magette (12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block) was influential at both ends as Tasmania evened the series with a 79-72 victory. McVeigh (15 points) and McIntosh (13 points) led the scoring, while Goulding (18 points), Agada (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Lual-Acuil Jr (13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks) led Melbourne as Tasmania became the first expansion club to win a finals game during its inaugural season.

Game three returned to John Cain Arena, where Melbourne captain Chris Goulding suffered a calf injury during warmups and was ruled out of the deciding game. Magette (9 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals) hit a difficult three-pointer down the stretch and helped control the offence alongside Adams (30 points) and McVeigh (16 points), while Ili (18 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists), Lual-Acuil Jr (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and White (14 points and 15 rebounds) led Melbourne. Tasmania won 76-73 and advanced to the Grand Final in its first NBL season.

The Grand Final series opened at Qudos Bank Arena, where Magette (10 points, 10 assists, and 2 blocks) recorded a double-double as Sydney defeated Tasmania 95-78. McIntosh (14 points and 4 rebounds) and McVeigh (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) led the JackJumpers’ scoring, while Jaylen Adams (18 points), Clark (17 points and 2 steals) and Cooks (14 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists) led Sydney. Jaylen Adams suffered a left hamstring injury during the fourth quarter and was ruled out for the remainder of the series.

Game two moved to MyState Bank Arena for the first NBL Grand Final game played in Hobart, where Magette (10 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) helped Tasmania stay within reach as Adams (36 points) delivered his best game of the season and Weeks (11 points) provided scoring off the bench. Vasiljevic (20 points and 5 rebounds), Cooks (20 points and 11 rebounds) and Martin (20 points and 10 rebounds) led Sydney before Vasiljevic hit a long-range three-pointer with eight seconds remaining to secure a 90-86 victory. The result was Sydney’s 12th consecutive road victory, the most away wins by a team during a single NBL season.

Dejan Vasiljevic with the 𝘿𝘼𝙂𝙂𝙀𝙍 🗡️
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– 📺 Watch the #NBLFinals Live on ESPN pic.twitter.com/XDIgoHVKo9— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) May 8, 2022

The flu swept through Tasmania ahead of game three at Qudos Bank Arena, with McVeigh and Krslovic ruled out, but Magette (12 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 6 steals) played 39 minutes and produced one of his strongest all-around performances of the season. Adams (27 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and McIntosh (14 points and 8 rebounds) provided support, while Cooks (23 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks), Martin (22 points, 17 rebounds, and 1 block) and Clark (22 points, 3 assists, and 1 block) led Sydney to a 97-88 victory in front of a Grand Final record crowd of 16,149. The Kings completed the 3-0 sweep for their first championship in 17 years and their 19th win from their final 21 games, with Cooks named Grand Final MVP and Cooks and Martin combining for 45 points and 30 rebounds.

2022/23
After reaching the NBL Championship Series in their inaugural season, Tasmania entered NBL23 with most of its roster intact. Leading scorer Josh Adams (to Cedevita Olimpija) and MiKyle McIntosh (to Saga Ballooners) were the major departures, with head coach Scott Roth recruiting Milton Doyle (via Gaziantep) and Rashard Kelly (via JDA Dijon) as their replacements. The JackJumpers began the season shorthanded, with Will Magnay continuing his recovery from the knee injury which had ended his first campaign and captain Clint Steindl sidelined by a knee injury suffered while representing Australia at the FIBA Asia Cup. Isaac White (via Illawarra) and Tristan Forsyth (via South East Melbourne) were added as injury replacements.

Tasmania opened its season against South East Melbourne at John Cain Arena on October 1, where Magette (7 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals) directed the offence, while McVeigh (20 points and 5 rebounds) and Kelly (18 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) led the scoring. Adnam (30 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) powered the Phoenix to an 84-79 win.

Magette (10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2 steals across 28 games) started every regular-season game, led Tasmania in assists and the NBL in steals, and finished fourth in the JackJumpers’ MVP voting with 78 votes. He had returned as Roth’s floor general after signing a one-year extension in June. “I’m so excited to be coming back to Tassie for another season… I’m excited to continue building on the foundations we have laid,” Magette said.

Further losses to Cairns and New Zealand left Tasmania 0-3 and equal last with Brisbane before the teams met at MyState Bank Arena on October 9. Magette (2 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 3 steals) remained disruptive defensively, while Doyle (32 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) and McVeigh (17 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Tasmania and Johnson (24 points) was Brisbane’s leading scorer as the JackJumpers came from 16 points down to win 90-86 in overtime. The victory began a four-game winning streak which moved Tasmania into the top six, where it remained for the rest of the season.

Magette’s best scoring game came against Adelaide at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on October 13, where he scored 14 points in the opening quarter and finished with 23 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals on 8-of-13 shooting, including five three-pointers. Kelly (19 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block) and Doyle (16 points and 1 block) provided support, while Randall II (18 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) led Adelaide as Tasmania won 97-72.

Magette delivered his highest assist total of the season against Perth at MyState Bank Arena on January 29, finishing with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 11 assists, and 2 steals as Tasmania closed the game with a 22-4 run. Doyle (21 points and 4 assists) and McVeigh (18 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the scoring, while Thomas (19 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) was Perth’s best as the JackJumpers won 102-94 and improved to 15-12 with one regular-season game remaining.

Doyle (17.2 points, 5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 steals across 31 games) became Tasmania’s leading scorer, was selected to the All-NBL First Team and won the club MVP award. McVeigh (14.8 points and 4.6 rebounds across 32 games) increased his scoring for a fifth consecutive season, finished as the JackJumpers’ leading Australian scorer and was voted Fan Favourite, while Kelly (12.1 points and 6.2 rebounds across 31 games) led Tasmania in rebounding and was a finalist for the NBL Best Sixth Man award. MacDonald (6.3 points across 32 games), Magnay (5.9 points and 4.1 rebounds across 22 games), White (5.3 points across 28 games) and Krslovic (5.2 points and 3.2 rebounds across 32 games) provided further support, with MacDonald receiving the Coaches Award, Magnay being named Defensive Player of the Year and White receiving the Players Award.

Tasmania’s final regular-season game came against Illawarra at the WIN Entertainment Centre on February 4, where Magette (5 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) received an accidental elbow from William Hickey during the third quarter and left the game in considerable pain. Doyle (20 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists) and McVeigh (14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) led Tasmania, while Harvey (13 points) was Illawarra’s leading scorer as the JackJumpers won 87-63 and secured fourth place with a 16-12 record. Magette suffered a broken cheekbone and fractured eye socket which required surgery and ruled him out of the postseason. “It’s been a crazy couple of days… Thanks to everyone for all the calls, the texts, the messages… I really appreciate it,” Magette said.

Without Magette, greater ball-handling responsibility fell to Weeks, White and Doyle when Tasmania faced Cairns in the Seeding Qualifier. Doyle (25 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals), White (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Kelly (11 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) led the JackJumpers, while McCall (24 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Scott (17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) were Cairns’ best as Tasmania won 87-79 at the Cairns Convention Centre and advanced to face second-seeded New Zealand.

Magette was unable to fly to Auckland for game one of the semifinals, where Tasmania recorded its third-lowest score of the season in an 88-68 loss at Spark Arena. Kelly (12 points and 4 rebounds) and Doyle (10 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals) were the only JackJumpers to reach double figures, while Pardon (15 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and McDowell-White (13 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal) led New Zealand.

Game two moved to MyState Bank Arena, where Magette returned to the bench and contributed as an extra coach while Doyle (23 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals), McVeigh (16 points and 3 rebounds) and Kenyon (11 points and 6 rebounds) led Tasmania to an 89-78 win. Brown Jr (19 points and 3 steals), Brantley (17 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks) and Pardon (15 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 steals) led New Zealand as the JackJumpers forced a deciding game.

Magette was again unable to travel for game three at Spark Arena, where MacDonald (14 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal) filled his position and joined McVeigh (22 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 block) and Kelly (16 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block) in leading Tasmania. Brown Jr (32 points and 3 steals), Pardon (15 points, 14 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block) and Brantley (14 points and 7 rebounds) led New Zealand to a 92-77 win and a place in the NBL Championship Series.

Josh Magette played two seasons the Tasmania JackJumpers. He averaged 11 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in 62 NBL games.