The Tasmania JackJumpers are celebrating their fifth birthday today, with club officials crediting the team’s championship success and grassroots authenticity for transforming basketball across the state.
Chief executive Christine Finnegan said the response from Tasmanians had far exceeded expectations since the club’s rapid 12-month build to its NBL debut.
“I don’t think we had any clue of what was possible but we knew we were going to throw everything at it,” she said.
“In all my time in professional sport this has by far been the best time I’ve had and the most successful club I’ve been associated with.”
The JackJumpers claimed the NBL championship in their third season and have sold out MyStateBank Arena for every home game since launching.
Finnegan said the club’s rise was built on reflecting Tasmanian values.
“When you build a club the club needs to look like the people it represents and the people of Tasmania are humble, they’re authentic and they’re understated,” she said.
“I think the more you see something that is a reflection of yourself, the more you want to be part of it.”
Sport Minister Nick Duigan said the team’s “Defend the Island” mantra had become a rallying cry statewide.
“The reach of the JackJumpers goes so much further than [the championship] across Tasmania,” he said.
“As I travel the state and go to regional basketball and junior basketball, you see the impact this organisation has had there.”
Head coach Scott Roth, who coined the slogan, said connecting with the state had required constant community engagement.
“You’ve got to go out and push the flesh and shake hands and be humble about what you’re doing,” he said.
“I’ve spent thousands of miles driving for the last four and a half years.”
Captain Will Magnay said the team’s visibility was crucial for inspiring the next generation.
“You want kids to be able to look to someone in front of their own eyes,” he said.
“Being able to put a product in front of kids … to look up to and strive to, there’s a realistic goal in front of them to be a professional athlete with thousands of people supporting and cheering you on. I think it’s pretty amazing.”
Inaugural captain Clint Steindl, now retired and working as a teacher, said fans deserved huge credit for the club’s rapid rise.
“It’s not just a credit to this club and its players and those involved but to the community that has backed it and has come to our games, sold out [MyStateBank] arena every game,” he said.
“Those fans that have travelled on the road with the team, they’ve played a massive part in it and they should take a lot of credit for how this has gone.”
The JackJumpers are now preparing to launch a WNBL women’s team, with major announcements expected within weeks.
Finnegan said the club was finalising a name for the side, while construction of a new high-performance centre in Kingston was running ahead of schedule and under budget.
For her, the greatest achievement remains the joy the club has brought to families across the state.
“My greatest achievement is seeing all those little kids run around on game day with the biggest smiles on their faces,” she said.
“I see families turning up in droves and I know that the JackJumpers is the night out that they choose for their family and that’s all I could ask for.”
