Embracing the chaos: Why McVeigh makes Boomers better

“He just runs around and causes chaos.”

Australian basketball champion Andrew Bogut says Jack McVeigh could be key to the Boomers’ chances of success in Paris.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed an incredible rise to the national team, and Bogut says he provides a point-of-difference for coach Brian Goorjian.

“McVeigh gets in and just the way he plays …  it’s like he’s had three Red Bulls. He just runs around and causes chaos, because he plays so hard and you can see that he’s really trying to make something happen,” Bogut said on The Gold Standard.

“It can be good or bad, but in this lineup they need a guy like him. Look to him to be playing a bit more minutes, especially given he came on before a Joe Ingles.”

McVeigh proved himself as a reliable three-point shooter this season, coming up big in vital moments during the Tasmania JackJumpers’ championship run.

With sharpshooters Chris Goulding and DJ Vasiljevic among those to miss the Boomers’ squad, he could be the go-to man when Australia needs a bucket.  

“I think probably Goorj’s biggest concern is when we are playing and flowing well, who’s going to knock down long range shots for us?,” Bogut said. 

“I think McVeigh comes into that. He had nine points tonight (against the USA) … didn’t make a three, but was aggressive.

“You’ve got to look to him to knock down those threes for them.

“They’re a different look with him on the floor because I think he brings something a little bit different to Nick Kay. Nick Kay’s more of a, be in the right place at the right time, space the floor, make the right decision, but it’s more of a slower (look).”

As Bogut and Brad Newley were recording their Boomers podcast, the news dropped of McVeigh’s reported move to the Houston Rockets.

“It’s a great story. Great for the NBL, great for Tassie,” Newley said. 

“It’s just amazing what the selection for the Boomers has done for him,” Bogut continued. 

“This is a guy that I think his first season didn’t really play much. He spoke about that at length that he had to find himself and reinvent himself about how hard he worked. 

“The national team has put him on the map a little bit … I’m sure Houston were probably following his journey in that NBL season and had an eye him.

“He made the national team over Matisse (Thybulle) and a few other guys and they’ve probably said ‘let’s give him a crack for a two-way’. 

“It’s great for the league, it’s great for Tasmania, it’s great for Jack.” 

McVeigh averaged 16.4 points and 5.3 rebounds a game across the NBL24 season, winning the Larry Sengstock Trophy as the Championship Series MVP. 

Alongside JackJumpers teammate Will Magnay, he’s off to his first Olympics next week, with a final exhibition game against Serbia on Wednesday morning, before the Boomers take on Spain on July 27.