Steindl Becomes All-Round Leader JackJumpers Only Dreamed Of

Written for nbl.com.au by Chris Pike

Clint Steindl is now the complete all-round NBL player and leader that Shawn Dennis envisioned him becoming, but the Tasmania JackJumpers captain just wants to continue representing the Island and setting no ceiling on what they can achieve in NBL22.

Having already enjoyed an impressive NBL career starting in Cairns following his college career at Saint Mary's, then moving to Townsville and ultimately lobbing at Perth where he was part of two championships, it was all about stepping out his comfort zone with Steindl coming to Tasmania.

Bringing 237 games of NBL experience with him, Steindl became the obvious choice to be captain but that meant he had to take everything he learned from his career, and be the one to set the example and lead the club and the playing group from the front.

It's fair to say the role has suited him to a tee. The 33-year-old not only is averaging double-figure points for the first time since his standout 2015/16 season at Townsville, but he's pulling in the most rebounds since that Crocs season, is getting up the most shots and shooting at the best clip of his NBL career.

To top that off, his leadership both in terms of leading by example and stepping up to be that vocal leader has been outstanding, and that's highlighted by the way he's seeing the JackJumpers run to the end of the season.

Steindl knows what it takes to win NBL championships. He never missed the finals in four years at the Wildcats and won two rings, and while the JackJumpers are still two games out of the four with six matches to go, he sees no reason to not think they can still reach the post-season. 

And should they make it, why shouldn’t they shoot for the sky.

"To be honest I think everyone that has come up to us from a club standpoint, a fan standpoint or a corporate sponsor standpoint have said that you guys have surpassed our expectations," Steindl said.

"I guess with the success we've had throughout the season where no one thought we could do what we're doing right now and having those people coming up to us, you see where they are coming from. 

"But from a players standpoint, the ultimate goal is the championship and people can say that's pretty farfetched for a new team, but realistically we've put ourselves in a position to have our best shot of trying to compete for a championship. 

"Wherever the chips may fall come the end of the season, we hope we're in that top four but from the expectations from a player standpoint, we've got a long way to go to achieve what we want to achieve basically."

When coach Scott Roth was pulling his players together to form the inaugural JackJumpers team, it was character and commitment right at the forefront of his checklist. 

He wanted a group of players who would invest themselves fully into wanting to create something special from the ground up and to do the state of Tasmania proud, and to set up a culture that will stand the test of time. 

While Steindl knows it's only 22 games into that journey, but he couldn’t be happier with the way things have come together so far.

"It's come back to what we tried to instil from day one here. You've heard people talk about it and you've heard Scott talk about, and it's coming back to the culture and building a foundation for this club to be successful in 10, 20 years' time," Steindl said.

"Every club can sit there and say that we've got this part of our culture and that part of our culture, but one thing evident with ours is that no matter who's on the floor, you've got a role to play, you're going to have your mates back and whatever happens, whether it's good or bad, we're going to talk about it and move on. 

"That's part of building trust within a group that's very new to each other having only been together for 22 games. This group has never played any other basketball together so building that trust from the beginning was a major step in what we're trying to achieve. 

"Obviously there was tough conversations along the way and you need guys to buy in, but before that happens there has to be a point where everyone's voice is heard, there is some conflict, we talk about it and come to a reasoning, and then everyone buys in knowing the direction we want to head. From day one it's all been about building trust, having your mates back and doing for a teammate."

Despite whatever is happening personally with Steindl, though, and right now he is one of the best leaders across the NBL, is contributing so much more on the floor than his trademark shooting and he's doing it with wife Kayla and son Noah supporting him, it's all about team goals.

He came to the JackJumpers not worrying about personal goals, he wanted to help set up a culture like he had seen Alex Loughton help build in Cairns, Jacob Holmes do the same in Townsville and Damian Martin deliver in Perth. 

Then once he arrived in Tasmania and realised just how passionate the whole state was and how committed they were to getting behind the JackJumpers, it only drives Steindl further along with his teammates, coaching staff and management to do the Apple Isle proud.

While as professional athletes you don't need extra motivation to go out to play well and win, knowing you have the backing of the people of Tasmania does help knowing that what you're doing means a lot to a lot of people.

"Having spent time not just in Hobart but throughout the whole state of Tasmania from the pre-season camp we did and then to the Blitz and also our two regular season games up in Launceston, you can see the amount of passion within the basketball community in this state," Steindl said.

"It's not that it gives us extra motivation, but it makes us play with the relentlessness that the people of this state are going to be proud of when we walk off that floor. 

"It's part of building this new franchise because you don't want people jumping off this ship because you don't have a group that's playing hard and isn’t representing the state and community in the right way. 

"That's been another huge part of why we've had some of the success along the way is because we want to go out there and defend the island. We want to make this community proud of this team that they are getting behind."

Steindl's past four years with the Wildcats has seen him play a role to come on under Trevor Gleeson to be that knockdown shooter. 

There's nothing wrong with that and obviously Steindl was happy to do whatever was asked of him especially when the end result was winning two championships, reaching another Grand Final and never missing the post-season.

However, he's always been capable of much more than just his outside shooting. Former NBL Coach of the Year Shawn Dennis saw that when they were together with the Townsville Crocodiles and he pushed Steindl hard to become a good defender, rebounder and creator with the ball in hands.

It worked. He was the NBL's Most Improved Player that season and put up career-high numbers of 12.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.9 steals while going at 39.2 per cent from downtown.

Steindl has been happy to have done whatever asked on whatever team he has been on, but this version of himself at the JackJumpers more closely resembles that all-round player Dennis saw him becoming.

"Going into my first year in Townsville, looking back on it now SD was a massive part of the success that I'm having right now and that I've had whilst in Townsville and over in Perth. With each team you go to you will have a different role and will be expected to do different things," Steindl said.

"I guess maybe my role in Perth took a backseat to what I was doing in Townsville and that's perfectly fine because that's what the team needed. But now in another new system under a new coach with different personnel around you, some of those things are starting to come out again. 

"Maybe I'm not just flying around the three-point line or just throwing the ball in the air as Fab Krslovic would say. You can see me making plays for others in the keyway, being able to get in the paint and getting up to finish like I was when I was in my 20s. 

"It's just part of my role within the group and some of the looks that I'm getting now, I'm loving it and am still very aggressive shooting the ball. As I've said all along, that's what I hang my hat on and the niche that I've found within the NBL where I can help teams be successful. I guess the old dog has just picked up some old tricks again, not necessarily new ones."

As for being captain of the JackJumpers, it's forced Steindl to somewhat step out of his comfort zone but it clearly sits well with him and it's hard to imagine the club making a better choice as a leader now in hindsight.

Steindl has thrived with the responsibility of being the inaugural captain and he's been able to draw from the leaders he has played on in the past when trying to not only lead from the front on the floor, but to instil and build the culture.

"First of all, I've absolutely loved it. It's opened my eyes in terms of how to lead. There's many different ways whether it's being vocal, whether it's through example or just being able to get something done that might not even be basketball related," Steindl added.

"It might be something the guys need off the floor and having learnt over the years from guys like Alex Loughton when I first stepped into the NBL to Jacob Holmes at Townsville and then Damian Martin and Jesse Wagstaff in Perth. 

"You see the different leadership styles that each one possesses and one that I've taken hold of the most is just leading by example in terms of being able to have a work ethic every day where not only can the young guys can see how you are meant to operate as a professional athlete. 

"But even for some of the older guys coming from different clubs where they might not have had leaders in that aspect, and you kind of pick them up and pull them along for the ride to go in every day, and do the work," Steindl added.

"It's definitely been interesting and I wouldn’t change too much right now in terms of what I'm doing as the captain of the team, but to finish this season off strong it's about making sure that everyone is holding onto this rope and not letting go until the chips fall where they do. 

"Then we know the season's done, but for these next six games these guys are going to play with a passion of fighting for our season, surviving and hopefully we advance in a couple of weeks. A lot of that right now is keeping these guys focused and switched on to give ourselves the best shot."

Steindl certainly isn’t taking credit for what's happening with the JackJumpers. As captain, he's helping to set the tone but ultimately coach Roth put this group together and did a tremendous job of finding players who can all lead in their own different ways.

"A lot of that comes from Scott as well. He's always said that you guys have to do the work every day and then try to go put it into action. I've definitely learnt from past guys that I've played and you have Damo who is the charismatic vocal leader who everyone looks towards and up to," Steindl said.

"Then you have guys like Jesse Wagstaff who essentially just goes about his business and does what he needs to do each day to put his best foot forward game day. 

"We have different guys who will lead in different situations too. Josh Magette will lead the team on the floor in terms of getting us up and down, and getting us moving around the floor. 

"You've got Jack McVeigh who has taken on a role of being that constant energy guy who will always pick the group up when it's not quite there. Everyone is just playing their part and their role in terms of helping this group grow."

Not only is Steindl still ensuring the JackJumpers keep shooting to make what would be a remarkable playoff appearance, he sees no reason they also should have no ceiling on their expectations to think a championship isn’t conceivable.

However, he's also realistic to know they need to keep winning to keep any of those dreams alive beginning Friday night in Adelaide and then on Sunday at home to the Sydney Kings.

While the Sixers are out of the finals race, Steindl is fully aware they will be no pushover but he is hoping the JackJumpers can get the job done there to set up their biggest game of the season on Sunday against the Kings.

"It's very similar to last weekend in terms of it being make or break. It's the whole March Madness thing of surviving to advance. We're surviving but are not quite advancing because we've got a couple of teams ahead of us who are winning also," Steindl said.

"We just have to take care of business in Adelaide to essentially set up probably the biggest game of our season against Sydney on Sunday. That one won't really mean too much if we don’t get tomorrow night done in Adelaide. 

"They are a good team playing well as of late, and they have talent there. Although they may not be playing for a playoff spot, it can be dangerous playing a team with no pressure on them. You've got guys playing for various reasons whether it's big contracts or whatever and they are danger games. 

"When we are fighting for something, we have to continue our mentality from last weekend and carry that forward to say that if we want to give ourselves the best shot at playing finals basketball, then these are the games we need to take care of."