World News Olympic twist to Jack McVeigh’s basketball love story Blog

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Nick Kyrgios may have had Australian sport’s most famous love affair with the John Cain Arena, but the basketball star who gave up his honeymoon to play basketball there has his own love story to tell.

Jack McVeigh swapped his wedding celebrations in balmy Bali for the winter chill of Melbourne, all in the hope of booking the trip of a lifetime to the Paris Olympics.

And that move looks set to pay off after McVeigh made his first appearance for the Games with a dominant performance in the Boomers’ warm-up win over China on Tuesday night.

The 203 cm tall striker did not let the guests rest, landed six of eight shots from distance and scored 24 points in the 107-87 victory, the highest score of his team.

“It was an easy decision, but I organized a whole trip to Bali with 15 of my friends and of course my wife,” said McVeigh, who married Beth last month.

“It was a honeymoon they all went on and they had a great time and here I am (in Melbourne).

“I think they would have cheered with a few drinks and had a great time.

“It was all planned so long ago and yet I still had no idea (about a possible participation in the Olympic Games).”

A late bloomer, McVeigh got his first big break three years ago at the NBL’s pandemic centre, the John Cain Arena, and rose to prominence in March when he led the Tasmania JackJumpers to a fairytale championship title at the same venue.

His last-minute three-pointer to decide the third game will go down in league history, as will his MVP performance in the best-of-five series decider against Melbourne United.

The 28-year-old added another chapter to the story as a standout player in the Boomers’ NBA-rich team’s opening win over China.

Now he wants to use his favorite place – where tennis bad boy Kyrgios has long enjoyed fervent support at his Australian Open – as a springboard to Paris.

“I definitely like this arena,” McVeigh said.

“I actually imagine that my basketball career will really take off there.

“In the (pandemic) bubble, a player on our team got injured and that was the first time I really played regularly in the NBL.

“This arena will always mean something special to me, that’s for sure.”

McVeigh has one last chance to stake his Olympic claim when the Boomers face China again on Thursday night.

Coach Brian Goorjian will then reduce his 17-man squad to the final Olympic squad of 12.

McVeigh was considered an underdog at the Games earlier this year, but he takes nothing for granted.

“Right now, I’m not high. I’m locked up,” he said.

“It’s a marathon, not a sprint. I’ll show up for training and get to work, and then we have another game on Thursday.

“If I make it into the team, I will be in the best position and ready for the trip to Paris.

“I just love playing basketball and am grateful to be able to do it here.

“The competition is so tough. I have no idea (if I will be selected).

“I know ‘Goorj’ has a difficult decision to make and I certainly don’t envy him this role.”

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