DURING his first season in the G League, Aussie forward Jack McVeigh thrived with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, making every post a winner and starring in his role throughout the 2024/25 fixture.

McVeigh getting a two-way offer from the Houston Rockets was one of the best stories in Australian basketball throughout 2024. The forward had cemented himself as one of the best Aussies in the basketball scene over the past couple of years, and even went viral for a game-winning half court heave in the 2024 NBL Championship Series.

After a successful Olympic Games campaign with the Australian Boomers, McVeigh jetted over to the United States, and was assigned to Houston’s G League affiliate to develop his craft given the Rockets had a full rotation at NBA level.

McVeigh made an immediate impact for the Vipers, and was in All Star contention throughout the course of the season. Much like his time with the Tasmania JackJumpers, McVeigh was an offensive weapon, and although his form could fluctuate at times, he was still a consistent performer overall.

On the season, McVeigh averaged 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, all while shooting 43.9 per cent from the field and 37 per cent from the charity stripe. Much of McVeigh’s scoring came from jumpshots, which he has spent his career perfecting from both midrange and behind the arc.

The Aussie was put into the starting lineup throughout the course of the season, which worked well when the likes of Cam Whitmore came down from the Rockets to the Vipers and demanded much more of the ball.

Working well off the ball, McVeigh consistently got to his spots and improved the speed in which he got off his shots. Now, he can catch the ball and have a shot off in less than a second, needing less time to steady himself and allowing the defence less of an opportunity to contest his shot, particularly around the perimter.

Unfortunately, McVeigh and the Vipers were eliminated in the first round of the G League playoffs, and the Aussie lowered his colours in the elimination clash. He did not register a field goal in a quiet performance from the forward, who could simply not get himself involved.

However, it was a strong campaign overall from McVeigh, and he has not done his NBA chances any harm with some excellent performances for the team’s G League affiliate.