Why Te Rangi is perfect fit for JackJumpers

Scott Roth couldn’t believe no other NBL team wanted Majok Deng last season before he became crucial in the championship triumph. He had similar feelings about Reuben Te Rangi and is delighted his 350th game came in a Tasmania JackJumpers uniform.

If you go right back to the inaugural season of the JackJumpers, Roth has wanted to give players chances that other NBL teams weren't including Jarrad Weeks, Sam McDaniel, Jarred Bairstow, Fabijan Krslovic and Matt Kenyon.

Then last season, despite being a 201-game veteran from Adelaide and Cairns, Deng was still available when most rosters were full. Roth jumped at the chance to bring him in and come the Championship Series, he was crucial in Tasmania's triumph.

Coming into NBL25 and the JackJumpers had their roster set nice and early, but were then thrown a curve ball for the best possible reason when the Houston Rockets snapped up Jack McVeigh.

When Roth saw that Te Rangi was still available, he knew that he wouldn’t find anyone better to step into that void and 21 games later, he is even stronger in that view.

"It's just a credit to him (Te Rangi) and I can't wrap my head around you not wanting a 30-year-old veteran that's been with the Tall Blacks, is a great human being and is a worker," Roth said.

"For him to not be on a roster I was quite shocked about and I hope that never transpires again for him.

"Majok Deng says he has 10 more years left in him and I really hope he gets that because you can't just find guys like this to put onto a roster with the character that he has. He's been a wonderful addition to our group and just fits in perfectly with what we do."

Te Rangi reached his 350th game on Tuesday night having started with his hometown New Zealand Breakers before stints at the Brisbane Bullets and South East Melbourne Phoenix.

He had always been a tremendous role player at all three clubs, playing whatever role asked of him and always being seen as a terrific team person, leader and character around the group.

What Roth is proud of with the JackJumpers is they provide players with chances they might not receive elsewhere.

He remains happy for them even if they end up signing elsewhere afterwards like White, Bairstow, Kenyon or McDaniel, and now is delighted to have Te Rangi to coach.

"We've had a few of these guys like this come through our program which has been built on guys getting second chances and reviving their careers," Roth added.

"I can go down the list with Isaac White, Matt Kenyon and Majok Deng was in the same boat as Reuben with no one wanting to sign him.

"It's no knock because I don’t really fully understand it because they thrive down in Tasmania with us, but when we lost Jack McVeigh we were scrambling to find a player and he didn’t have a job. No one wanted him in the NBL.

"He's a guy that's been captain of the Tall Blacks, had a stellar career as a human being on and off the floor, and he's literally sitting there before the season starts without a job. No team is even making a play for him."

Te Rangi himself has always been a man of few words and he plays like he conducts himself off the court, just quietly going about his business and getting the job done for his team.

That's why he's been an NBL player since starting with the Breakers as a development player in the 2012/13 season and ending up playing in two championships.

He joined coach Andrej Lemanis in the move to the Bullets and had a brilliant NBL19 where he was the league's Best Sixth Man and Most Improved Player, and ended up having four strong years in Brisbane and another four at South East Melbourne.

Te Rangi has been a tremendous Tall Blacks servant right along the way and while he's not someone to search for the spotlight with a milestone like 350 games, he has used it as a chance to reflect.

"Training every day and playing 350 games, it does feel like I've been doing this for a long time, but I'm enjoying it and it's the thing I love to do," Te Rangi said.

"I feel like I'm not really a man for milestones but in saying that, I think it is good to celebrate them and to sit down and just remember some of the times, and how grateful I am to be able to play this long."