Nick Kyrgios boasts Australian sport’s most famous love affair with John Cain Arena, but the basketball star who skipped his honeymoon to hoop at the venue has his own tale of romance to tell.
Jack McVeigh has swapped the celebration of his nuptials in balmy Bali for Melbourne’s winter chill, all in the hope of booking the trip of a lifetime to the Paris Olympics.
And the move looks increasingly likely to pay off, after McVeigh nailed his first Games audition with a dominant display in the Boomers’ warm-up win over China on Tuesday night.
The 203cm forward torched the visitors, landing six-of-eight shots from long range on his way to a team-high 24 points in the 107-87 thrashing.
‘It was an easy decision, but I did organise a whole Bali trip with 15 of my friends, and my wife, obviously,’ said McVeigh, who married Beth last month.
‘It was a honeymoon trip that they all went to and they’re having a great time, and here I am (in Melbourne).
‘I think they would’ve been cheering on with a couple of drinks, having a great time.
‘It was all planned so long ago and still at that point I had no idea about (a possible Olympics berth).’
Jack McVeigh (pictured) swapped the celebration of his wedding in balmy Bali to play for the Boomers in Melbourne
McVeigh (pictured with wife Beth) is hoping he can take her to Paris if he’s selected
McVeigh is confident he can talk his wife into another trip later in the month.
‘They’re having the best time ever,’ McVeigh told ESPN.
‘Hopefully I can drag Beth to Paris.’
A late bloomer, McVeigh got his first big break in the NBL’s pandemic hub at John Cain Arena three years ago, and shot to prominence in March by leading the Tasmania JackJumpers to a fairytale championship at the same venue.
His last-ditch three-pointer to clinch game three will go down in league history, as will his MVP performance in the best-of-five series decider against Melbourne United.
The 28-year-old added another chapter to the story as the outstanding player in an NBA talent-laden Boomers outfit’s series-opening win over China.
Now he’s looking to use his favourite venue – where tennis bad-boy Kyrgios has long enjoyed fervent support during his Australian Open runs – as a springboard to Paris.
‘I definitely enjoy this arena,’ McVeigh said.
McVeigh had an excellent game for the Boomers on Tuesday night against China
‘It’s actually where I envision my basketball career really taking off.
‘In the (pandemic) bubble, a guy on our team got injured and that was the first time I really played consistent minutes in the NBL.
‘So this arena will always mean something special to me, that’s for sure.’
McVeigh has one more chance to press his Olympic claims, with the Boomers taking on China again on Thursday night.
After that, coach Brian Goorjian will cut his 17-man squad to a final Olympic roster of 12.
Considered a Games long-shot at the start of the year, McVeigh is taking nothing for granted.
‘Right now, I’m not high. I’m locked in,’ he said. ‘It’s a marathon, not a sprint. I’m going to show up to training and get after it, and then we’ve got another game on Thursday.
‘If I make the team I’ll be locked in and ready to go to Paris. ‘I just love playing basketball and I’m grateful I get to do it here.
‘It’s so competitive. I’ve got no idea (whether I’ll be picked). ‘I know ‘Goorj’ has got a tough decision and I definitely do not envy that role.’
