The Tasmania JackJumpers have claimed their maiden NBL championship by pulling off a remarkable 83-81 road win over Melbourne United in the best-of-five series decider. In front of 11,175 fans in enemy territory at John Cain Arena, Jordon Crawford (168-PG-1990, college: BGSU, agency: Slash Sports) produced one of the great scoring performances to help Tasmania claw their way to the crown in a gripping battle. Crawford scored 27 first-half points and overcame a quite third period to finish with a series-high 32. It was the equal-third highest tally by any player in a title-series game during the 40-minute game era, which dates back to 2009. Heart-and-soul Tasmania leader Jack McVeigh (203-F-1996, college: Nebraska) was awarded the Larry Sengstock Trophy as MVP of one of the toughest NBL Championship Series in history. The result completed a fairytale ride under head coach Scott Roth for the league’s newest franchise, who lost a title decider two years ago in their debut season. United earned home-court advantage for the Championship Series and won the first of three Melbourne games by 23 points, but coughed up the final two in tight contests. The final four games of the series were decided by a total of just 11 points. Crawford was the hero for Tasmania but had plenty of support from Jack McVeigh (14 points, eight rebounds), Will Magnay (208-F-1998, college: Tulsa) (11, 12) and Milton Doyle (193-SG-1993, college: Loyola, IL) (11, 10). Each of Melbourne’s five starters reached double figures, led by Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. (213-C-1994, college: Baylor) (14 points), Matthew Dellavedova (193-G-1990, college: SMC), Chris Goulding (192-G-1988) and Luke Travers (200-F/G-2001) (13 each). Dellavedova, who won an NBA championship with Cleveland in 2016, had a last-gasp chance to pinch the decider for Melbourne, but his long-range attempt at a buzzer-beater hit the backboard and rimmed out. “The last four games really came down to a few possessions here and there, and our guys stayed resilient when it looked like they might throw a knockout punch,” JackJumpers coach Scott Roth said. “We just kept grinding away and I can’t be more proud of this group. That was the trait throughout the season.” “We had an anomaly in that first game when we travelled back from Perth and were maybe a little fatigued, and they smacked us pretty good. It was the leadership from our captains and more importantly the poise that we have, knowing that we’ve done the work all season.” Lual-Acuil set the tone for an explosive first quarter with a huge dunk under pressure from Magnay and Doyle to open the scoring. Travers had 11 points to his name as Melbourne built a double-figure lead inside five minutes and held a 31-26 advantage at quarter-time after Goulding’s buzzer-beating three-pointer. But Crawford’s scintillating 19-point first period on perfect shooting, including four triples, kept Tasmania firmly in the contest. He remained perfect from long range with his fifth three-pointer, which put Tasmania ahead for the first time, two minutes before half-time. Goulding hurt his right knee in a collision with Majok Deng (205-F-1993, college: ULM) and racked up three fouls before halftime, as one of a host of players from both teams in foul trouble. Scores were locked at 44-44 at the main break as Crawford’s personal tally swelled to 27 points. The first half’s dominant figure went cold in the third quarter, throwing up four shots – all of them unsuccessful – as a tense battle continued at both ends of the floor. Melbourne burst out of the blocks in the fourth quarter with a 7-2 run that drove a nine-point wedge between the teams. But Crawford responded with the next five points and Tasmania were level again in the blink of an eye. The JackJumpers got five points up, but Goulding’s ridiculous off-balance three with four seconds left ensured the game went down to the buzzer. Melbourne pinched an in-bounds pass and Dellavedova heaved a potential game-winner that missed, sparking wild scenes among the travelling Tasmania fans. “We challenged for a championship and we all just want one or two possessions back,” United coach Dean Vickerman said. “What an amazing series we were a part of and I’m sure we’ll reflect on that once we get over actually losing the tight game that we were in.” Tasmania’s first championship came after they lost a title decider against the Sydney Kings two years ago in their debut season.
Courtesy of: theguardian.com

Finals MVP: Jack McVeigh (203-F-1996) of Tasmania JJ
Player of the Year: Bryce Cotton (182-G-1992) of Perth
Guard of the Year: Bryce Cotton (182-G-1992) of Perth
Forward of the Year: Gary Clark (198-SF-1994) of Illawarra
Center of the Year: Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. (213-C-1994) of Melbourne
Sixth Player of the Year: Ian Clark (190-G-1991) of Melbourne
Most Improved Player of the Year: Sean Macdonald (185-G-2000) of Tasmania JJ
Domestic Player of the Year: Chris Goulding (192-G-1988) of Melbourne
Import Player of the Year: Bryce Cotton (182-G-1992) of Perth
Rookie of the Year: Josh Bannan (208-F-2001) of Brisbane
Defensive Player of the Year: Shea Ili (184-G-1992) of Melbourne
Coach of the Year: Dean Vickerman of Melbourne

First Team
Bryce Cotton (182-G-1992) of Perth
Chris Goulding (192-G-1988) of Melbourne
Gary Clark (198-SF-1994) of Illawarra
Anthony Lamb (198-F-1998) of NZL Breakers
Parker Jackson-Cartwright (180-PG-1995) of NZL Breakers

Second Team
Mitch Creek (196-F/G-1992) of SE Melbourne
Nathan Sobey (190-G-1990) of Ipswich F.
Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. (213-C-1994) of Melbourne
Milton Doyle (193-SG-1993) of Tasmania JJ
Jack McVeigh (203-F-1996) of Tasmania JJ

Australiabasket.com All-Australian NBL Honorable Mention 2024

Vasiljevic

Adams

Miller

Froling

Humphries

Honorable Mention
Dejan Vasiljevic (190-G-1997) of Waverley F.
Jaylen Adams (188-PG-1996) of Sydney
Patrick Miller (185-G-1992) of Cairns
Samson Froling (212-C/F-2000) of Airs
Isaac Humphries (216-C-1998) of Adelaide

Australiabasket.com Australian NBL All-Domestic Players Team 2024

Goulding

Creek

Sobey

Lual-Acuil Jr.

McVeigh

All-Domestic Players Team
Chris Goulding (192-G-1988) of Melbourne
Mitch Creek (196-F/G-1992) of SE Melbourne
Nathan Sobey (190-G-1990) of Ipswich F.
Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. (213-C-1994) of Melbourne
Jack McVeigh (203-F-1996) of Tasmania JJ

Australiabasket.com Australian NBL All-Imports Team 2024

Cotton

Doyle

Clark

Lamb

Jackson-Cartwright

All-Imports Team
Bryce Cotton (182-G-1992) of Perth
Milton Doyle (193-SG-1993) of Tasmania JJ
Gary Clark (198-SF-1994) of Illawarra
Anthony Lamb (198-F-1998) of NZL Breakers
Parker Jackson-Cartwright (180-PG-1995) of NZL Breakers