JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) - Winning a rare 'three-peat' has been the expectations observers have set on Australia in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, but such a matter is hardly being discussed within the team whatsoever.
What the present batch talks about and thinks of, really, is ensuring that they can collectively continue the Boomers' way - or keeping the program's winning tradition alive, particularly in the continental tilt.
"We haven't talked about the three-peat necessarily," said Jack McVeigh,
"But definitely, we've talked about the history of Australia in this and how they've played," he added, "and what we can learn from and take from and that kind of culture and style that Australia plays with."
"And, definitely carrying that forward into this tournament," he furthered.
Newly appointed head coach Adam Caporn went with a youth-laden Australia squad for this year's Asia Cup, without any remnant of the batch that swept its way toward back-to-back titles in 2022 in Jakarta.
In fact, the average age of this particular group is at 24.0 although the squad's brain thrust still made it a point to add in a few seasoned players into the mix, and one of which is the 29-year-old McVeigh himself.
"We got a bunch of young fellas and got to wear the Australian green and gold for the first time, and then we got vets - guys that have been around, played a lot of years in professional basketball," he said.
"It's like a great combination of energy, and a little bit of wisdom to go out there and help us win games," added the 2024 Olympian, who's a proud product of the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence.
The former Houston Rocket has been playing professionally since 2018 and he's embracing the somewhat unique role he has - being a vocal bridge of sorts between their predecessors and the young bloods.
But McVeigh has shown that he can lead by example as well.
The Aussies opened their 2025 Asia Cup with a 97-61 victory over Korea on Wednesday at the King Abdullah Sports City, and that dominant win wouldn't have been possible without his torrid shooting.
He finished with 20 points behind a quintet of three-pointers, four of which he made in consecutive fashion to turn a slim four-point lead to a 40-29 cushion and that's all they needed to set the tone for the rout.
"I'm about to head into my eighth year as a pro. So that's being around. And, using my voice to lead, create confidence, and help everyone get the best out of each other on the court," said McVeigh.
With their first test now in the books, the former youth stalwart and Australia know that it won't get any easier from here on out, with their two remaining games in Group A of the Group Phase sure to be even more difficult.
Next up for the crew would be Lebanon on Friday at 18:00 local time, which, without a doubt, has been one of the most anticipated matches of this year's Asia Cup after the two duked it out in the 2022 Final.
Then there would be Qatar whom they will test the mettle of on Sunday at 11:00 local time, going up against a team that's been busy building up for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 which they will be hosting.
McVeigh, though, is excited for the challenge.
"They're gonna be some great basketball teams, and it's a great basketball tournament," the New South Wales-native offered. "We're gonna have to come, bring our best, do what we do, and play Australian basketball."
"I feel good about what's gonna happen," he closed.
FIBA