Sport
18 May, 2023
Matthew Dellavedova returns to play for Melbourne United for next two NBL seasons
Delly-mania is set to hit Melbourne once again in 2023/24. Melbourne United confirmed that Matthew Dellavedova will return to the club, having signed a two-year deal to play in the National Basketball League (NBL). The stint will be Dellavedova’s...
Delly-mania is set to hit Melbourne once again in 2023/24.
Melbourne United confirmed that Matthew Dellavedova will return to the club, having signed a two-year deal to play in the National Basketball League (NBL).
The stint will be Dellavedova’s second with both United and the league, having played in the NBL22 season, guiding United to the playoffs and being named in the All-NBL second team in the process.
In that season, Dellavedova averaged 10.3 points per game, as well as 4.9 assists and 3.1 rebounds over 30 games.
Coupled with helping guide Australia to a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, that was enough to see Sacramento give Dellavedova an NBA lifeline in the 2022-23 season, linking up with his former Cleveland coach Mike Brown in the process, where his veteran presence helped guide the Kings to their first playoffs appearance since 2006, where they eventually lost in seven games to the Golden State Warriors.
It came after a season where Dellavedova saw limited game time, but averaged 1.5 points and 1.3 assists per game in 32 regular-season games. A finger injury prevented Dellavedova from participating in the playoffs.
Dellavedova now joins a Melbourne United squad which boasts established NBL players such as Chris Goulding, Brad Newley and Shea Ili, while also linking up with Luke Travers — a prospect who, like Dellavedova, was picked up by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2022 NBA Draft, while he also links up again with United head coach Dean Vickerman.
The return of Dellavedova to regular basketball is also timely, given his recent selection to the Australian team for the World Cup, where he’ll link up with exciting NBA talents such as Josh Giddey, Matisse Thybulle, Jock Landale and Dyson Daniels.
Speaking to melbourneutd.com.au, Dellavedova stated that his aim was to deliver a championship to the city — having won two since their controversial rebrand from the Melbourne Tigers in 2014.
“I’m really excited to be coming back to Melbourne United,” he said.
“I want to come back and win a Championship here. It’s a great club that has a really strong culture and I’m happy to be back a part of it.
“I had a lot of fun the year I was here. There’s excitement about getting to play with a lot of those same guys we had success with a year ago. It was a great group of guys, some I knew and some I grew close with.”
Dellavedova’s first game back in Melbourne is set to be a big one, with the season-opening clash between rivals Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix to be played at John Cain Arena on Thursday, September 28.