JackJumpers: Season One "No Fluke"

NBL fans will be afforded an all-access pass to the upcoming season through the release of the upcoming documentary ‘NBL23: Unrivalled’.

With episode one set to drop on Friday, September 30 on ESPN via Foxtel, Kayo Sports and 10play, the Tasmania JackJumpers have issued a warning to the rest of the competition.

Star forward Jack McVeigh proved crucial in Tasmania’s run to the grand final last season, and he personifies the culture and style the JackJumpers have quickly implemented in their short tenure in the league.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">UNRIVALLED ACCESS ??<br><br>Get ready to feel like you&#39;re part of the action this season with our UNRIVALLED: INSIDE <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> documentary series.<br><br>Episode 1 drops this Friday September 30 on <a href="https://twitter.com/Foxtel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Foxtel</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a> + <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Channel10AU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Channel10AU</a> via 10 Play <a href="https://t.co/lvlFUgc49I">pic.twitter.com/lvlFUgc49I</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1574666436739747841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“Last year wasn’t a fluke,” McVeigh says in episode one of the new documentary.

“We’re going to go out there and we’re going to play JackJumpers basketball.

“'Fairytale' was called all season long, and the one that hit me personally was ‘talentless’. That word kept being thrown around, which blew my mind because the talent was winning.

“We lost Josh Adams and MiKyle (McIntosh), two incredible players that brought a spark that almost can’t be replaced, and that shouldn’t be the new guys’ role to replace. They’ve got to do what they do well.”

One of those new players is powerful forward Rashard Kelly.

Kelly, along with fellow import Milton Doyle, are the only two high-profile additions to the JackJumpers roster. Fellow import Josh Magette, along with established NBL talents Clint Steindl, Jarrad Weeks, Fabian Krslovic and more are all going around again.

“Not everyone can come and play for Tasmania,” head coach Scott Roth said.

“For me it’s more about personalities. I couldn’t really care less at the end of the day [about] the skillset.

“I know they’re good but for me it’s about are they going to be able to identify with being in here … it’s a new journey and we’ll see how it goes.”

From a grit and culture standpoint, Kelly looks to be a good fit for the JackJumpers.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Let’s Go ! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarchOn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarchOn</a> <a href="https://t.co/ML2Xt4wWW2">pic.twitter.com/ML2Xt4wWW2</a></p>&mdash; Rashard Kelly (@WizKellyy) <a href="https://twitter.com/WizKellyy/status/1575375294953029632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A hustler on both ends of the court, Kelly’s greatest strengths lie in rebounding and defence. His approach to crashing the boards looks to be similar to that of former NBA MVP Charles Barkley, and that’s simply to “go and get the damn ball”.

“My hunger and toughness came from my background,” he said. “Just growing up playing outside and playing against guys who were five years older than me who taught be how to be tough.

“I had to figure out how to make a name for myself with my hustle, my rebounding and my defence. I’m grateful for the opportunity and I’m grateful for the challenge.

“The team here went to the finals last year, they brought back all the guys apart from two imports, and they’re still picked tenth in the league in pre-season voting. That shows the lack of respect from everybody else in the league.

“I’m the new guy and I’m feeling there’s no need to be satisfied with what they did accomplish last year.”