Feature image: Basketball Australia
That’s how Victorian Matthew Dellavedova describes the fascinating story of his international basketball career.
Fresh of winning an NBA Championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers and signing a lucrative new contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, Dellavedova recently took a moment to reflect on how far he’s come.
From Maryborough to multimillionaire, ‘Delly’ is still coming to terms with his new-found fame and fortune. After all, an NBA championship and a four-year, US$38.4 million ($51.2 million) contract is a lot to wrap your head around.
“It hasn’t fully sunk in yet, just because I haven’t really had much time to think about it,” Dellavedova said.
Image credit: Kangaroo Photography
“I don’t think it will probably sink in for a while, what it means, because it’s obviously a pretty big change.”
A product of humble beginnings, Dellavedova’s passage through Victorian Country state teams, the Australian Institute of Sport and St. Mary’s University led him to the doorstep of the NBA three years ago.
But there was no red-carpet welcome from the NBA. That door was only slightly ajar.
“To go from being undrafted and playing at Summer League, to making the team at training camp and then establishing myself as the team’s back-up point guard,” Delly reflected.
“To falling short last year and having to take the qualifying offer – kind of betting on yourself to have a good year – even though they were bringing in another point guard.
“To having a pretty good year and winning the title. It’s been a journey.”
A journey that has recently delivered a shiny new championship ring and a whopping new contract.
Let’s be honest: the money is amazing. But don’t expect any big spending from the boy with the Vic country roots.
You see, Delly has spent his entire life finding ways to get better; ‘How can I get fitter? Get faster? When can I get my shots up?’ It’s how his brain works. So when he smiles about a few extra zeros appearing in his bank account, he’s not thinking about fancy new sports cars.
“The thing I’m probably most excited about is that I can do a lot of things now to see how good I can get,” Delly said.
“Taking even better care of my body, training stuff like that. I’m going to get a house in Milwaukee and set up a bit of a recovery basement. That’s what I’m most excited about in that regard.”
Wow.
The bloke just signed a contract worth tens of millions of dollars and that’s what he’s most excited about? Training gear? A recovery basement? Taking care of his body?
It’s that kind of mentality that has endeared Dellavedova to every one of his teammates and coaches along the journey.
“That’s a guy who is dedicated,” LeBron James said about Delly during Cleveland’s championship celebrations.
“He never cared about people saying ‘Delly’s not fast enough, Delly’s not strong enough, Delly can’t shoot it well enough, Delly’s not an NBA player’.
“Well guess what, Delly’s a champion.”
He’s also a champion bloke, constantly deflecting praise and showing love for those around him, especially his family.
“My family has been there for me every step of the way; mum and dad and my sisters,” Delly said.
“I definitely wouldn’t be in this position or have had the experiences I’ve had so far without them.
“They’ve been there the whole time supporting me; driving me around the countryside when I was a kid. That keeps me pretty grounded.”
Dellavedova’s next focus is on helping the Boomers achieve success at the Rio Olympics. Four years ago in London, he forced his way into the starting line-up after only narrowly making the team. This time he’ll be leading from the front.
“In London I was coming off my junior year at St. Mary’s and I was just trying to make the team and then go from there,” Dellavedova said.
“This time around we have big goals and everybody is in the same boat and has got the same vision – we’ve talked about that throughout the year.
“When playing against the best we aren’t going to be intimidated by anybody.”
To a man, the entire Boomers squad will tell you exactly the same thing. They genuinely think they can medal.
For Delly, the game plan is as simple as being true to their green & gold jerseys.
“The things that make Australians Australian, they’re what our big advantages are,” Dellavedova said, referring to the values of mateship, hard work, loyalty and teamwork.
“We have a lot of guys doing well all over the world, but when we come back there’s only one goal and that’s to win with the Boomers.”
As the miraculous journey of Matthew Dellavedova continues to unfold, Australia’s first ever men’s Olympic medal would be a remarkable next step. To achieve it, the Boomers will need to overcome some powerhouses of international hoops.
That sits perfectly fine with Dellavedova, he’s beaten the odds his entire career.
