When basketball fans talk about Australians in the NBA, names like Patty Mills and Josh Giddey often dominate the conversation. But there’s a new Aussie making waves in the world’s premier basketball league – Jack McVeigh. His journey from the coastal towns of Australia to the bright lights of the NBA represents one of the most inspiring late-bloomer stories in recent basketball history.
Jack McVeigh’s Biography
| Personal Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jack Edward McVeigh |
| Date of Birth | June 27, 1996 |
| Age | 28 years |
| Education | University of Nebraska (2015-2018) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Height | 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) |
| Weight | 215 lbs (98 kg) |
| Position | Power Forward |
| Turned Pro | 2018 |
| Net Worth | $1–$1.5 million |
| Salary | $578,577 (2024-25 season) |
| Career Earnings | $51,497 |
| Wife | Bethany McVeigh |
| Jersey Number | 58 |
Early Career
Jack McVeigh was born in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia, and grew up in nearby Cabarita Beach in southern Queensland. His basketball journey began at a young age, developing his talents locally before moving to the Gold Coast for boarding school. During his formative years, McVeigh attended The Southport School and played for the North Gold Coast Seahawks, where he began to establish himself as a promising basketball talent.
After his time on the Gold Coast, McVeigh’s basketball development continued when he graduated from Lake Ginninderra College in Canberra in 2014. This period marked a significant step in his career progression as he joined Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence from 2014 to 2015.
The Centre of Excellence has been instrumental in developing many Australian basketball talents who later reached international success, and McVeigh’s inclusion in this program highlighted his potential.
During his time at the Centre of Excellence, McVeigh represented Australia in various international competitions, showcasing his talents on bigger stages. He made his debut for Australia’s Senior National Team at the 2014 Sino-Australia Challenge, an impressive achievement for such a young player.
His leadership qualities were evident early, as he was voted captain of Australia’s Under-19 National Team in 2014. The following year, McVeigh represented Australia at the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Championship, where he averaged 11.1 points and led his team with 5.7 rebounds per game, demonstrating his all-around abilities on the international stage.
Professional Career
After completing his college career at the University of Nebraska, Jack McVeigh returned to Australia in 2018 to begin his professional basketball journey. His first step was joining his hometown team, the Gold Coast Rollers, where he played in the 2018 Queensland Basketball League season. This brief stint provided him with a smooth transition back to Australian basketball before taking a significant leap to the country’s premier professional league.
In late 2018, McVeigh signed a three-year contract with the Adelaide 36ers of Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL), marking the true beginning of his professional career. His rookie NBL season with the 36ers in 2018-19 saw him play a modest role, appearing in 20 games and averaging just 3.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in limited minutes (8.3 minutes per game). While this first professional season didn’t showcase his full potential, it provided valuable experience at a high level of competition.
During his time with Adelaide, McVeigh supplemented his NBL experience by playing in Australia’s state leagues during the offseason. In 2019, he joined the North Adelaide Rockets in the Premier League, helping him gain additional playing time and continue developing his skills.
His role with the 36ers gradually expanded over his three seasons with the team. In the 2019-20 NBL season, McVeigh’s minutes increased to 14.4 per game, and his scoring rose to 6.0 points per contest. By his third and final season with Adelaide (2020-21), he was averaging a much-improved 9.4 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting an impressive 42.5% from three-point range across 36 games.
Wife
Jack McVeigh is married to Bethany McVeigh, commonly referred to as Beth. The couple tied the knot in June 2024 after having been together for over three years.
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Their wedding took place shortly before McVeigh was called to the Australian basketball selection camp for the 2024 Paris Olympics, which presented a difficult choice for the newlyweds.
In a significant testament to his dedication to basketball and representing his country, McVeigh made the decision to miss his honeymoon to attend the Olympic selection camp in Melbourne.
As he explained in an interview, “It was an easy decision, but I did organise a whole Bali trip with 15 of my friends, and my wife, obviously. While McVeigh stayed behind in Melbourne’s winter weather for the training camp, Beth and their friends continued with the planned honeymoon trip to Bali.
Jack McVeigh’s Net Worth Details
Jack McVeigh’s net worth is estimated to be $1–$1.5 million as of 2025.
Contract
Jack McVeigh is currently playing under a one-year, two-way contract with the Houston Rockets, which he signed on July 25, 2024. This represents McVeigh’s first NBA contract after years of developing his skills in Australia’s NBL and briefly in Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga.
The two-way contract structure is designed specifically for developing players like McVeigh, allowing them to move between the NBA team and its G League affiliate throughout the season. Under this arrangement, McVeigh can spend up to 50 games with the Rockets while developing further with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers when not with the main squad.
The contract includes standard two-way provisions, with a salary of $578,577 for the 2024-25 NBA season. When the season concludes, McVeigh will become a restricted free agent (RFA), which means the Rockets will have the right to match any offer sheet he signs with another team, giving Houston the first option to retain his services.
Salary
For the 2024-25 NBA season, Jack McVeigh is earning $578,577 under his two-way contract with the Houston Rockets, representing a significant income milestone in his professional basketball career. This salary positions McVeigh as the 531st highest-paid player in the NBA for the current season, ranking 213th among forwards and 18th within the Houston Rockets organization.
The two-way contract structure means McVeigh’s earnings are considerably lower than standard NBA contracts, which average around $9.5 million annually, but substantially higher than the typical salaries in Australia’s NBL, which generally range from $45,000 to $500,000 AUD for most players.
Career Earnings
| Year | Team | Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Adelaide 36ers | $50,000 (estimated) |
| 2019–21 | Adelaide 36ers | $300,000 (estimated) |
| 2021–24 | Tasmania JackJumpers | $900,000 (estimated) |
| 2024–25 | Houston Rockets | $578,577 |
| Total | $1,828,577 |
NBA Career Stats
| Season | Team | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Houston Rockets | 9 | 0 | 4.8 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 29.4% | 30.8% | 0.0% |
| Career | 9 | 0 | 4.8 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 29.4% | 30.8% | 0.0% |
FAQs
1. Who is Jack McVeigh?
Jack McVeigh is an Australian professional basketball player born on June 27, 1996, in Murwillumbah, New South Wales. He currently plays for the Houston Rockets in the NBA on a two-way contract with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA G League. He is known for his versatility as a forward and his journey through both Australian and American basketball leagues.
2. What teams has Jack McVeigh played for during his professional career?
Jack McVeigh has played for several teams, including the BA Centre of Excellence, Gold Coast Rollers, Adelaide 36ers, North Adelaide Rockets, Tasmania JackJumpers, North Gold Coast Seahawks, MLP Academics Heidelberg, Houston Rockets, and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. His career has spanned both Australian and international leagues.
3. What are Jack McVeigh’s notable achievements in basketball?
Jack McVeigh led the Tasmania JackJumpers to their first NBL championship in 2024 and was named the NBL Grand Final Most Valuable Player. He was also named the JackJumpers Club MVP after averaging 17.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during the 2023–24 season.
4. What is Jack McVeigh’s college basketball background?
Jack McVeigh played college basketball at the University of Nebraska from 2015 to 2018. He appeared in 78 games, making 15 starts, and averaged 5.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per game. He became known as a valuable sixth man during his sophomore season.
5. When did Jack McVeigh join the NBA, and what is unique about his jersey number?
Jack McVeigh joined the Houston Rockets in July 2024 on a two-way contract. He became the first NBA player to wear the jersey number 58, which is the sum of the four jersey numbers he wore during his collegiate, NBL, and international careers.
6. How did Jack McVeigh perform in his NBA and G League debut seasons?
In his NBA debut with the Houston Rockets, Jack McVeigh played six games, scoring a total of eight points. In the G League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, he averaged 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game over 34 games, showcasing his scoring and rebounding abilities.
7. What is Jack McVeigh’s role with the Australian national basketball team?
Jack McVeigh was named to the Australian Boomers’ final squad for the 2024 Paris Olympics. His selection highlights his status as one of Australia’s top basketball talents and his contributions to the national team.
8. What is Jack McVeigh’s height, weight, and playing position?
Jack McVeigh stands 6 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 215 pounds. He primarily plays as a power forward but has also been utilized as a guard-forward due to his versatility on the court.
9. What are some key moments in Jack McVeigh’s professional basketball career?
Key moments include leading the Tasmania JackJumpers to an NBL championship in 2024, earning the Grand Final MVP, scoring a career-high 27 points in the NBL semi-finals, and making his NBA debut with the Houston Rockets in November 2024.
10. What is Jack McVeigh’s background before turning professional?
Jack McVeigh grew up in Cabarita Beach, New South Wales, and attended The Southport School before graduating from Lake Ginninderra College in Canberra. He played for the North Gold Coast Seahawks and the BA Centre of Excellence, which helped shape his early basketball career.
