- Jack McVeigh skipped his honeymoon in Bali to play for Australia
- McVeigh’s wife and friends are currently celebrating abroad
- He was the standout for the Boomers against China
Nick Kyrgios may have Australia’s most famous sporting relationship with John Cain Arena, but the basketball star who skipped his honeymoon to play hoops at the arena also has his own romantic story to tell.
Jack McVeigh has swapped his wedding celebration in sultry Bali for the cold winter days in Melbourne. He hopes to book the trip of a lifetime: the Olympic Games in Paris.
And it appears the move is paying off, after McVeigh successfully completed his first audition for the Games with a dominant performance in the Boomers’ victory over China on Tuesday night.
The 203cm attacker surprised the visitors with six of eight shots from distance, scoring a team-record 24 points in the 107-87 loss.
“It was an easy decision, but I did organize a whole trip to Bali with 15 friends and of course my wife,” said McVeigh, who married Beth last month.
‘They’ve all been on their honeymoon and they’re having a great time. And here I am (in Melbourne).
‘I think they cheered us on with a few drinks and had a great time.
‘It was all planned so long ago and at that time I still had no idea about (possibly participating in the Olympic Games).’
Jack McVeigh (pictured) swapped celebrating his wedding in sultry Bali to play for the Boomers in Melbourne
McVeigh (pictured with his wife Beth) hopes he can take her to Paris if he is selected
McVeigh is confident he can persuade his wife to take another trip later this month.
“They’re having the best time ever,” McVeigh said ESPN channel.
“I hope I can take Beth to Paris with me.”
A late bloomer, McVeigh got his first big chance at the NBL’s pandemic-era John Cain Arena three years ago and in March he shot to prominence by leading the Tasmania JackJumpers to a fairytale championship at the same venue.
His final three-pointer to decide Game 3 will go down in history, as will his MVP performance in the deciding best-of-five series against Melbourne United.
The 28-year-old added a new chapter to the story as the standout player in the opening game of the NBA series against China, a Boomers team loaded with talent.
Now he wants to use his favourite location, where tennis star Kyrgios has long enjoyed a lot of support during his participation in the Australian Open, as a springboard to Paris.
“I absolutely enjoy this arena,” McVeigh said.
McVeigh had an excellent game for the Boomers on Tuesday night
‘I think this is where my basketball career really takes off.
‘During the (pandemic) bubble, a player on our team got injured and that was the first time I really played consistent minutes in the NBL.
“This arena will always mean something special to me, that’s for sure.”
McVeigh gets one more chance to stake his Olympic claim as the Boomers take on China again on Thursday night.
Coach Brian Goorjian will then narrow down his roster of 17 players to a final Olympic roster of 12 players.
McVeigh was seen as a contender for the Games at the beginning of the year, but he no longer takes anything for granted.
“I’m not high right now. I’m locked up,” he said.
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint. I’m going to go to training and go for it, and then we have another race on Thursday.
‘If I’m included in the team, I’ll be completely ready to go to Paris.
‘I love playing basketball and I’m grateful to be able to do it here.
‘It’s so competitive. I have no idea (if I’ll get picked).
“I know that ‘Goorj’ has to make a difficult decision and I am certainly not jealous of that role.”