He's the hero of the evening! From an offensive rebound transformed into a “fadeaway” baseline, Jack McVeigh snatched overtime in the meeting between the Thunder and the Rockets. MVP of the NBL Finals with the Tasmania JackJumpers and signed in “two-way contract” the Australian winger scored 7 points in 8 minutes in Houston's victory, and Jock Landale's compatriot has a particularity. He is the first player in NBA history to wear number 58!
After his signing, the Rockets sent him the list of available numbers. Jack McVeigh originally planned to keep number 9, but it is owned by Dillon Brooks. Then he moved to the 17, which he wears with Australia, but Tari Eason wears it for the Rockets. Then, he considered resuming the 10, which he wore at the University of Nebraska, but it is on the back of Jabari Smith Jr. As for the 22, which he had already worn for the selection, it is withdrawn…
9 + 17 + 10 + 22 = 58
Finally, Jack McVeigh, or rather his wife, had an idea: add up the numbers of jerseys worn in his career, and that gives 58. “We are sent a list of numbers that we can choose,” he confirms. “Obviously, I was among the last to choose. The list said that numbers 0 to 30 were almost all taken. My wife (Beth) came up with the idea. I'm a 28-year-old rookie, so the journey to get here is different than most people's. So I added up all the professional jerseys I've worn and got 58.”
When he selects this number, Jack McVeigh doesn't know that no one has worn it in NBA history! “It’s crazy! Being the very first for something is pretty incredible. One day I will be a quiz subject” he reacts.
Star of the NBL, he will now discover the end of the bench and the G-league with his “two-way contract”, but it is a choice that he accepts. “Things are going very well”he assures. “I’m adapting to a different style of basketball. It's a challenge. But I'm learning a lot. The program is well managed, and there are a lot of passionate people who I enjoy coming to train with every day. At my age and given my experience, I know who I am. I know what I bring. I have confidence in myself when I enter the field, even if it is a small number of minutes or a small opportunity with this “two-way contract”. I have confidence in what I do as a player and as a person. »
Two-way contract : Designed to create a new bridge between the NBA and the G-League, this type of contract allows each team to secure the services of two or three additional players, to develop them mainly in their affiliated development league franchise but also up to 50 matches in the NBA.
