2026 Commonwealth Games: Jesse Wagstaff could not turn down ‘wicked’ opportunity to join 3x3 basketball team

You would not know it from watching him train, but Jesse Wagstaff’s Perth Wildcats are currently in the middle of their off-season. Even though what will be his 18th NBL campaign is still some two months away, the 40-year-old’s recent weeks have included plenty of early-morning trips to the Bendat Basketball Centre, where he has completed sessions which run up to two hours long at nothing short of full tilt. While still very much an important and influential player for Perth, Wagstaff’s days of representing the Boomers are behind him. But he will still pull on a green and gold uniform and compete for his country at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Just as he did at Birmingham in 2022, the Wildcats captain has been selected for the Gangurrus, Australia’s 3x3 basketball team. Now well and truly into the twilight of a brilliant playing career which included a Commonwealth Games gold medal won with the Boomers in 2018, Wagstaff told The West Australian being given the chance extend his international career was “wicked”. “It’s such a special opportunity. The Commonwealth Games environment is so special,” Wagstaff said. “It’s not the Olympics and I was nowhere good enough to be at the Olympics, and that’s okay, but to go to a Commonwealth Games is huge. “The off-season, something’s always popped up for me, usually — it’s either a family holiday or the Boomers back in the day or some 3x3, so I like to leave it open and enjoy life outside of basketball, while staying in shape and being on the court. “It’s a nice time to do some cross-training and pick up opportunities like this.” 3x3 basketball has been formalised as a secondary format by basketball’s governing body FIBA in recent years and debuted at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 in place of the more traditional variant of the sport. Wagstaff was part of an Australian side which fell agonisingly short of winning the 3x3 gold medal in Birmingham, coming away with silver after suffering a controversial overtime loss to England in their final match. Having done just about everything there is to do for an Australian basketballer, he said he was enjoying feeling like a rookie again in the fledgling format. “I haven’t played a massive amount (of 3x3) since Birmingham, but I love it. It’s intense, it’s fast-paced, a bit more physical than five-on-five, and the spacing’s different on the court. It’s more intimate, too, with your teammates, there’s only four,” Wagstaff said. “I love it. Any chance to get to play, I jump at it the opportunity — especially at the Commonwealth Games, where you’re representing your country. “I think when anyone speaks about the Boomers or representing your country, what’s overlooked is getting to spend time with guys you don’t normally spend time with. “I do think we have our work cut out for us. The world of 3x3 is moving pretty fast and nations are developing pretty quickly and putting funding behind it. There’s some really good athletes and really good teams this year.” Wagstaff will be four years older than he was at the last edition of the Games — as will his young children Kensington, Quinn and Kit. While his family will not be joining him in Scotland, Wagstaff said he was hoping to make more “lifelong memories for them”. “Flights are fairly expensive, especially when you multiply them by four, but they’ll be watching and supporting,” he said.