Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth says the club is already planning for life without Jack McVeigh, following news that he had signed a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets.
McVeigh was a standout in the JackJumpers’ amazing postseason run, earning the Larry Sengstock Trophy as the greatest player in the Championship Series.
He’s now been called up to the Australian Boomers’ Olympic squad, and a potential NBA contract would cap off an incredible climb for the 28-year-old.
While nothing is official yet, Roth states that he and the club “will support him all the way.”
“If you had told me six months ago that he’d be playing against LeBron James and wearing an Olympic outfit, I would have said probably not, (but) what a tremendous six months he’s had and he’s following this goal,” he added.
“It’s nothing but wonderful news for us because it will entice more players to come down here.
“I believe my instructors have demonstrated over the last three years that if you want to become better, enhance your game, and go anywhere, you might as well come down here to the JackJumpers.”
The former NBL Coach of the Year stated that the JackJumpers had begun the search for replacements should McVeigh leave.
We’re already down the road with certain players (who might potentially come in for McVeigh), and we’re always trying to stay on top of things, and if we have to bring someone in on a temporary basis just to fill that last roster place, we will,” he continued.
“We’ll see what happens in the next few days as things get more formal, but we’re agile enough to move, and I’m really pleased with the people we have.
“It’s going to be a fantastic test for Majok Deng, who will hopefully be well and ready to go after the Olympics, and ‘Fab’ (Fabijan Krslovic).
“And I believe many will be amazed by Craig Sword’s abilities.
“So we’ll simply be flexible and do what we want. We will grind away and play as hard as we can, and that will be the way it is.
“On a selfish level, it will affect us (from a playing aspect) and we will have some holes to fill, but from the perspective of the club, the NBL, and the global exposure, wow.”
Roth returned to Tasmania on Tuesday, and NBL25 preparations are well underway.
