Rucker's massive JackJumpers call

Tasmania has been labelled as the team to beat in NBL24 by former NBL champion Derek Rucker, following the JackJumpers’ double-header Round 2 win over Melbourne and Sydney.

The JackJumpers have moved to a 2-1 record for the season following their high-scoring Round 1 loss to Perth, however Rucker has cited the victory over Melbourne as the decisive factor in championing Tasmania’s title credentials.

“Tasmania is an outstanding team,” Rucker said on Moments That Mattered. “They’re well coached, I think they have better personnel than they’ve had the past two seasons – and both seasons they’ve had deep playoff runs.

“They’re clearly the benchmark of the competition tight now and had a very impressive weekend.

“They knocked off Sydney in Tasmania and Sydney were never in that game. Then two days later they back it up on the road with a convincing, late, come from behind victory against Melbourne United.”

Milton Doyle was named Foot Locker Player of the Game in each of Tasmania’s wins, and has earned a resulting nomination as the Round 2 Chemist Warehouse Fans MVP.

He scored a decisive 12 points in the last six minutes of the win against Melbourne, after added 21 points in the low-scoring win over Sydney.

While Doyle already has an All-NBL First Team nomination to his name from NBL23, Rucker believes the 29-year-old has elevated his game even further this season, and has compared him to one of the biggest legends in NBL history.

“He reminds me of Leroy Loggins,” Rucker said. “I know that’s blasphemous in some ways to say that but he’s got that cool, calm and very talented manner about him.

“He’s able to inject himself into games, he’s good on both ends and his defence is very underrated.

“If you watch the types of players he guards in this competition he does a fantastic job, and of course we know he’s a clutch performer.

“He’s only getting better.”

Rucker also saved praise for local talent Jack McVeigh, who played a crucial closing role alongside Doyle in both wins.

“You’ve got Jack McVeigh who’s continuing to blossom as an Australian player,” he said.

“You don’t think he’s going to be that good and that’s why he’s such a good fit there.

“He fits in perfectly with the ethos of not only the Tasmania JackJumpers, but that community.”

The JackJumpers face another double-header in Round 3. First they will host Illawarra on Thursday, before clashing with the Phoenix on Saturday.