Athlete

Houston Rockets’ Jack McVeigh Breaks Down His ’58’ Jersey

Donning “58” on basketball’s largest stage may be unorthodox for most, especially considering that the number has never been used in the NBA’s 78-year history. While it may turn heads at first glance, the newly signed Houston Rocket, Jack McVeigh, tributes his nearly decade-long career on his chest for the red-and-white.

Instagram: @jackmctrey

McVeigh’s Instagram post mentions that “58” is the culmination of a rocky and uncertain road leading up to his NBA dream. He looks back at his time as a collegiate athlete and as a professional, adding up his jersey numbers: 10 (Nebraska), 9 (NBL), 22 (First Boomers), and 17 (Olympics)—an idea he credits to his wife.

“Every moment played a pivotal role in making my dream come true. The good, the bad, and the ugly all made me the player I am. I’m grateful for every moment,” he writes.

Instagram: @houstonrockets

Just two games in, McVeigh has posted averages of seven-and-a-half points and three rebounds in eight minutes, along with a last-second putback against the Thunder to send the game to overtime (and ultimately the win).

The 6’8” Murwillumbah native spent four years with the Nebraska Cornhuskers program, before attempting to join the NBA in 2019—where he went undrafted. He retreated overseas, managing seven seasons with the Basketball Bundesliga and several National Basketball League (NBL) teams where he claimed the recent NBL Championship and the Grand Final Most Valuable Player honors for the Tasmania JackJumpers.

Now 28 years old, he continues thriving at the game’s highest level with the Australian national team at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and the newest member of the Houston Rockets franchise under a two-way contract.