Who knew that Matthew Dellavedova would play such a prominent role for Cleveland in the NBA playoffs? Maybe Brett Brown.
The Sixers head coach on Monday recounted his experience with the Australian-born point guard in the 2012 Olympic Games.
"In 2012 I selected him to for the Olympic team," said Brown, the head coach of the Australian Senior National team at the time. "He played so well that he pushed Patty Mills to the two-guard spot. We used Mills similar to the way the Sixers used A.I. at the two when he was here. Dellavedova was our point guard."
Dellavedova started all six games the Australian team played at the London Games. He averaged 7.3 points, 4.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds.
"You have to understand where this kid came from," Brown said. "He is from a rural part of Victoria. I know his hometown well because it is near where my wife was born. It has a population of 7,500."
The 2012 Olympic Games provided a big stage for a small-town kid, but he did not arrive there without hard work.
Before Dellavedova had Olympic success, or the success he is enjoying with the Cavaliers, he had disappointment. Brown remembers that point in the 24-year-old's career vividly.
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"In 2010 we were getting ready to go to the World Championships in Istanbul Turkey," Brown said. "I had to release Matty. He didn't make the team. It was the most difficult person for me to cut from a team to this day.
"I could see the pain in his eyes of not being able to represent his country. It hurt him so much. I have cut many players — none compares to the difficulty of telling Dellavedova."
Dellavedova had to accept no that year, but he was back the following year. In 2011, he tried out again and this time made the Australian Senior National team.
Four years later, the undrafted Dellavedova is in a starting lineup alongside LeBron James in an NBA Finals series that is tied 1-1.
Dellavedova's defense on Stephen Curry has people talking. In Game 2, Curry missed 18 of 23 shots. The reigning MVP was 2 of 15 from three-point range.
"He has always been Australian. By Australian I mean it is never pretty. It is aggressive," Brown said. "He mirrors the attitude of the people in that country. Again, they are street fighters. Their mentality is one of tremendous pride. That camaraderie is the pulse of the nation.
"Everyone always said he did not have the skill package to make it in the NBA. But then look what he did with his Saint Mary's team. He took them to the NCAA tournament. He is a street fighter, a competitor, and he uses his size. He is a strong 6-foot-4, 205-pound guy."
In fours years at Saint Mary's, Dellavedova guided the Gaels to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including an upset of 2-seed Villanova in 2010. They have eight NCAA appearances in the history of the school.
He left Saint Mary's in 2013 as the school's career leader in points (1,933), assists (778), games (136), free-throw percentage (.860) and 3-pointers (288). The Gaels were 108-28 during his career.
Last year Dellavedova became the second player ever to have his jersey retired at Saint Mary's.
There is a long way to go in this series. The action shifts to Cleveland for the next two games beginning with Game 3 tonight. Whether Dellavedova continues to shine remains to be seen, but Brown knows the gritty Australian will take the court ready to play.
"He can keep up his end of the bargain," he said. "He studies extremely hard. I know he is looking at video of Steph Curry and figuring out ways to play him. He will use his smarts and size and listen."