_(cropped).jpg) Dellavedova with theCleveland Cavaliers in 2019 | |
| No. 8 – Sydney Kings | |
|---|---|
| Position | Point guard /shooting guard |
| League | NBL |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1990-09-08)8 September 1990 (age 35) Maryborough, Victoria, Australia |
| Listed height | 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) |
| Listed weight | 91 kg (201 lb) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
|
| College | Saint Mary's (2009–2013) |
| NBA draft | 2013:undrafted |
| Playing career | 2007–present |
| Career history | |
| 2007–2009 | Australian Institute of Sport |
| 2013–2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2016–2018 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2018–2021 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2021–2022 | Melbourne United |
| 2022–2023 | Sacramento Kings |
| 2023–2025 | Melbourne United |
| 2025–present | Sydney Kings |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Matthew William Dellavedova[1] (born 8 September 1990) is an Australian professionalbasketball player for theSydney Kings of theNational Basketball League (NBL). He playedcollege basketball forSaint Mary's College. In 2016, he won theNBA championship as a member of theCleveland Cavaliers. As a member of theAustralian national team, he won bronze at theTokyo 2020 Olympics.
Dellavedova was born and raised inMaryborough, Victoria,[2] as a sixth-generationItalian Australian.[3][4] As a junior, he played basketball,tennis,soccer, andAustralian rules football.[5] On the football field, Dellavedova played the position ofwing and kicked a total of 32 goals in 26 games between 1999 and 2001,[6] but gave the game away to focus solely on basketball.[7]
Dellavedova played junior basketball for the Maryborough Blazers andBendigo Braves.[8][9] After playing State basketball for Victoria Country, he attended theAustralian Institute of Sport (AIS) inCanberra for three years.[8][10] Prior to leaving for the AIS on a scholarship, he attended Maryborough Regional College.[11] While in Canberra, he attendedLake Ginninderra Secondary College. In 2017, he was inducted into the Lake Ginninderra Hall of Fame.[12]
Between 2007 and 2009, Dellavedova played for the AIS in theSouth East Australian Basketball League (SEABL). He averaged 15.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 18 games in 2008 and 10.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in nine games in 2009.[13]
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Dellavedova SG | Maryborough, Victoria | Australian Institute of Sport | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Nov 12, 2008 | |
Recruit ratings:247Sports:  (86) | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: ESPN: 72 (SG) | ||||||
Sources:
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Dellavedova was recruited byRandy Bennett and theSaint Mary's College of California in 2009 and signed with theGaels before the2009–10 season.[14] He was ranked byESPN as one of the top junior players in Australia.[15] Dellavedova immediately contributed for the Gaels and started all 34 games as a freshman.[16] In 2009–10, he averaged 12.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.[17] That season, the Gaels won 28 games and reached the Sweet Sixteen of the2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament.[16] The Gaels reached the Sweet Sixteen by upsettingVillanova, 75–68. Dellavedova's crucial late free throws iced the game against the Wildcats.[18]
On 16 January 2013, Dellavedova scored 18 points, including a game-winning three-point buzzer-beater, in a 70–69 victory over theBYU Cougars.[19][20] The forty-foot shot soon became known as the "Dellavedagger."[5][21] In 2012–13, Dellavedova was anAcademic All-America selection and aSenior CLASS Award finalist.[22][23]
Dellavedova graduated from Saint Mary's in 2013 with a degree inpsychology.[21] He finished his college career as Saint Mary's all-time leader in scoring, assists, games played, free throw percentage, and three-point shots.[24]
St. Mary's retired his jersey on 15 February 2014. Dellavedova's #4 was the second retired by the school's men's basketball program, joiningTom Meschery in the rafters ofMcKeon Pavilion.[25]
After going undrafted in the2013 NBA draft, Dellavedova joined theCleveland Cavaliers for the2013 NBA Summer League.[26][27] On 12 September 2013, he signed a two-year, $1.3 million contract with the Cavaliers, with $100,000 guaranteed.[28][29][30] On 26 March 2014, he scored a career-high 21 points in a 97–96 win over theDetroit Pistons.[31][32]
In July 2014, Dellavedova re-joined the Cavaliers for the2014 NBA Summer League.[33] Between 5 November and 5 December,[34] Dellavedova was sidelined with a sprainedmedial collateral ligament (MCL).[35][36] In February 2015, he participated in theRising Stars Challenge as part of theNBA All-Star weekend.[37] In the regular-season finale on 15 April, he recorded 18 points and 12 assists in a 113–108 overtime win over theWashington Wizards.[38]
In Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Dellavedova scored a team-high 19 points to help the Cavaliers defeat theChicago Bulls and advance to the Conference Finals.[39][40] Following the Cavaliers' Game 3 win over theAtlanta Hawks in Eastern Conference Finals, Dellavedova's aggressive play became a major talking point with some describing him as a "dirty" player. Despite this criticism, teammateLeBron James and NBA greatCharles Barkley both defended Dellavedova's style of play.[41] The Cavaliers defeated the Hawks 4–0 to advance to the2015 NBA Finals.[42]
In Game 2 of the NBA Finals against theGolden State Warriors, in the absence of the injuredKyrie Irving, Dellavedova heldStephen Curry to 0-of-8 shooting and four turnovers while guarding him.[43][44] The Cavaliers won Game 2 in overtime, 95–93, for their first victory of an NBA Finals game in franchise history.[45][46] In Game 3, Dellavedova scored a playoff career-high 20 points as the Cavaliers defeated the Warriors to take a 2–1 series lead.[47] After the game, Dellavedova was so dehydrated that he needed anIV,[48][49] and he was quickly taken to theCleveland Clinic for medical attention.[50][51] The Cavaliers went on to lose the last three games of the series, and Dellavedova shot just 19% from the field in those three games.[49]
On 27 July 2015, Dellavedova re-signed with the Cavaliers.[52][53] On 19 November 2015, he recorded a then career-high 13 assists in a 115–100 win over theMilwaukee Bucks.[54] On 20 December, he scored a season-high 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting in a 108–86 win over thePhiladelphia 76ers.[55] He missed five straight games in February 2016 with a strained hamstring.[56] The Cavaliers returned to the NBA Finals in2016 with a 4–2 series win over theToronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals.[57] In a Finals rematch with the Golden State Warriors, the Cavaliers became the first team in NBA history to win thechampionship after being down 3–1 in the series.[58]
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On 7 July 2016, Dellavedova was acquired by theMilwaukee Bucks in asign-and-trade deal with the Cavaliers,[59] in which Cleveland received a $4.8 million trade exception and the rights toAlbert Miralles, while Milwaukee also received cash considerations.[60] Dellavedova's contract gave him $38 million over four years.[53]
Dellavedova made his debut for the Bucks in their season opener on 26 October 2016, scoring 11 points in 29 minutes as a starter in a 107–96 loss to theCharlotte Hornets.[61] On 3 December 2016, he scored 12 of his season-high 18 points in the fourth quarter of the Bucks' 112–103 win over theBrooklyn Nets.[62] After starting all 30 games to begin the season,[63] he missed five straight games in late December and early January with a strained right hamstring.[64] In 2016–17, he averaged career highs in points (7.6) and assists (4.7) in a career-high 26.1 minutes per game over 76 contests with a career-high 54 starts.[65]
Dellavedova missed 15 consecutive games with left knee tendinitis during November and December of the 2017–18 season.[66] On 1 January 2018, Dellavedova had a season-high 10 assists in a 131–127 overtime loss to theToronto Raptors.[67] A right ankle sprain suffered on 4 February against the Nets[68][69] saw Dellavedova miss 29 straight games, returning to action in the Bucks' regular-season finale against thePhiladelphia 76ers on 11 April.[70] He went on to play in six of the Bucks' seven playoff games.[70]
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On 7 December 2018, Dellavedova was acquired by theCleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade that also involved the Bucks and theWashington Wizards.[71] In his return game for the Cavaliers in Milwaukee three days later, Dellavedova received an ovation when he entered the game and finished with 11 points in 16 minutes in a 108–92 loss to the Bucks.[72]
On 7 March 2020, Dellavedova recorded a career-high 14 assists in a 104–102 win over theDenver Nuggets.[73][74]
On 25 November 2020, Dellavedova re-signed with the Cavaliers.[75] He appeared in just 13 games with the Cavaliers during the2020–21 season as he suffered a variety of ailments, including aconcussion,whiplash, an emergencyappendectomy, and a neck strain.[76]
On 9 July 2021, Dellavedova signed a three-year deal withMelbourne United of the AustralianNBL.[77] On 16 January 2022, he scored a career-high 33 points with seven 3-pointers and nine assists in an 88–84 win over theIllawarra Hawks.[78] He averaged 10.3 points and 4.3 assists per game during the2021–22 NBL season. He parted ways with United in July 2022 to return to the NBA.[79]
On 29 July 2022, Dellavedova signed with theSacramento Kings.[80] On 29 March 2023, he sustained a right index finger fracture in a game against thePortland Trail Blazers.[81]
On 17 May 2023, Dellavedova signed a two-year deal with Melbourne United, returning to the team for a second stint.[82]
In the2023–24 NBL season, United finished as minor premiers and reached the NBL Grand Final series, where they lost 3–2 to theTasmania JackJumpers.[83][84]
In the2024–25 NBL season, Dellavedova helped United return to the NBL Grand Final series, where they lost 3–2 to theIllawarra Hawks. He had a standout series but struggled in Game 5 with five points and seven assists on 2-of-6 shooting. Despite United losing the series, Dellavedova was awarded the Larry Sengstock Medal as theNBL Grand Final MVP, something that had not happened since 1993.[85][86][87]
On 10 April 2025, Dellavedova signed a three-year deal with theSydney Kings.[88] He was sidelined for three weeks during January 2026 due to a concussion.[89]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| † | Won anNBA championship |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | Cleveland | 72 | 4 | 17.7 | .412 | .368 | .792 | 1.7 | 2.6 | .5 | .1 | 4.7 |
| 2014–15 | Cleveland | 67 | 13 | 20.6 | .362 | .407 | .763 | 1.9 | 3.0 | .4 | .0 | 4.8 |
| 2015–16† | Cleveland | 76 | 14 | 24.6 | .405 | .410 | .864 | 2.1 | 4.4 | .6 | .1 | 7.5 |
| 2016–17 | Milwaukee | 76 | 54 | 26.1 | .390 | .367 | .854 | 1.9 | 4.7 | .7 | .0 | 7.6 |
| 2017–18 | Milwaukee | 38 | 3 | 18.7 | .362 | .372 | .926 | 1.7 | 3.8 | .4 | .0 | 4.3 |
| 2018–19 | Milwaukee | 12 | 0 | 8.1 | .316 | .364 | 1.000 | .8 | 2.4 | .2 | .0 | 1.7 |
| Cleveland | 36 | 0 | 19.9 | .413 | .336 | .792 | 1.9 | 4.2 | .3 | .1 | 7.3 | |
| 2019–20 | Cleveland | 57 | 4 | 14.4 | .354 | .231 | .865 | 1.3 | 3.2 | .4 | .0 | 3.1 |
| 2020–21 | Cleveland | 13 | 1 | 17.2 | .250 | .160 | 1.000 | 1.8 | 4.5 | .3 | .1 | 2.8 |
| 2022–23 | Sacramento | 32 | 0 | 6.7 | .340 | .333 | .571 | .4 | 1.3 | .2 | .0 | 1.5 |
| Career | 479 | 93 | 19.4 | .385 | .363 | .835 | 1.7 | 3.5 | .4 | .0 | 5.2 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Cleveland | 20 | 7 | 24.9 | .346 | .316 | .781 | 2.1 | 2.7 | .5 | .0 | 7.2 |
| 2016† | Cleveland | 20 | 0 | 12.1 | .351 | .258 | .750 | .8 | 2.8 | .1 | .1 | 3.9 |
| 2017 | Milwaukee | 6 | 0 | 26.5 | .390 | .375 | .800 | 2.0 | 2.0 | .2 | .0 | 7.7 |
| 2018 | Milwaukee | 6 | 0 | 13.0 | .333 | .222 | 1.000 | .8 | 2.7 | .3 | .0 | 2.0 |
| Career | 52 | 7 | 18.8 | .354 | .303 | .779 | 1.4 | 2.6 | .3 | .0 | 5.4 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | Saint Mary's | 34 | 34 | 36.4 | .390 | .398 | .850 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 1.2 | .0 | 12.1 |
| 2010–11 | Saint Mary's | 34 | 31 | 35.3 | .418 | .376 | .881 | 3.6 | 5.3 | 1.2 | .0 | 13.4 |
| 2011–12 | Saint Mary's | 33 | 33 | 37.5 | .446 | .355 | .857 | 3.3 | 6.4 | .8 | .1 | 15.5 |
| 2012–13 | Saint Mary's | 35 | 35 | 36.4 | .404 | .382 | .852 | 3.4 | 6.4 | 1.1 | .1 | 15.8 |
| Career | 136 | 133 | 36.4 | .415 | .378 | .860 | 3.5 | 5.7 | 1.1 | .1 | 14.2 | |
Dellavedova is well known for his high levels of effort while playing.[14][90] Multiple players, coaches, and commentators have praised his toughness and competitiveness, particularly on defense.[91][92] On account of his aggressiveness, some have cast Dellavedova as reckless or dirty. However, multiple current and former players have spoken in defense of Dellavedova, includingLeBron James,[14]Kobe Bryant,[93]Charles Barkley,[41] andAntonio Davis.[94] Dellavedova's offensive strengths includes his three-point shot,[90] his floater,[90] and his passing ability.[16][91]
Dellavedova competed for the Australian junior national team at the2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship. He was the team's third leading scorer – averaging 10.1 points per game – for the fourth-place Australians.[95] He was named in theAustralian senior national team, the Boomers, to compete for the first time at the2009 FIBA Oceania Championship. At age 19, he was the youngest Australian player at the competition. He went on to compete for the Boomers at the2012 London Olympics, the2014 World Cup in Spain, the2016 Rio Olympics, and the2019 World Cup in China. At the2020 Olympics, he helped Australia win bronze.[96]
In July 2024, Dellavedova was named in the Boomers' final squad for theParis Olympics.[97]
Dellavedova's father, Mark, grew up playingAustralian rules football and his mother, Leanne, playednetball.[98] Both of Dellavedova's sisters, Yana and Ingrid, play basketball as well.[99]
Dellavedova married his long-time girlfriend, Anna Schroeder,[100] on 1 July 2017,[101] after proposing to her on 10 September 2016.[102] Dellavedova met Schroeder atSaint Mary's, where she played volleyball and was an honor roll student.[103] They started dating after his senior year.[103] On 5 July 2019, the couple announced they were expecting their first child, a boy.[104] On 6 November, he announced the birth of his son, Anders Ralph Dellavedova.[105]
He has a second cousin, also named Matthew Dellavedova, who is a tennis player in Australia.[106][107] Dellavedova is good friends with his formerCavaliers teammate,Joe Harris.[108][109]
Dellavedova is an avid supporter of theCollingwood Magpies in theAustralian Football League.[110][111]
On 28 March 2015, Dellavedova escorted Jackie Custer, a 17-year-old cancer patient, toAkron Children's Hospital's "A Prom to Remember" event.[112] Custer was asked to choose a celebrity guest to escort her to the event, and chose Dellavedova.[112] Custer stated, "Going to prom with Delly was a night I'll never forget. It was definitely magical, and he's the sweetest guy I've ever met."[112]
Dellavedova was a student at the centre, formerly Maryborough Regional College, until year 10 before leaving for the AIS on a scholarship.
Fellow basketballers Matthew Dellavedova, Joe Ingles and Suzy Batkovic were also inducted...
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