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Longtime Cavs guard Matthew Dellavedova signs with Melbourne United of NBL

By Justin Brownlow

Matthew Dellavedova of the Australia National Team handles the ball. (Photo by Fred Lee/Getty Images)
Matthew Dellavedova of the Australia National Team handles the ball. (Photo by Fred Lee/Getty Images) /
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Let’s go back in time for a minute, and remember the 2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals versus the Chicago Bulls. The Cleveland Cavaliers are up 3-2 heading into a clinching Game 6 in Chicago.

Kevin Love was not available for the series because of injury, and Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls looked very capable of knocking the Cavs out of the playoffs. A relatively unknown hero was born in that pivotal Game 6.

Matthew Dellavedova stepped up and led the team with19 points on 7-11 shooting from the field. Not only was he a lightning rod in a bottle on offense, but he held Derrick Rose to 14 points on 7-16 shooting from the field.

After getting by the Bulls, the Cavs would find themselves in the NBA Finals ready to take on the Golden State Warriors. Without Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, Dellavedova stepped up again, doing his best to shut down the Golden State offense. The Cavs would go on to lose that series, but everyone remembers Dellavedova’s incredible performances.

Now, we’re back in 2021, and it looks like “Delly” is finally heading back to his native Australia to finish off his career. According to a report from ESPN’s Olgun Uluc, Delly, who was set to be an unrestricted free agent, has signed a deal with Melbourne United of the NBL.

One has to feel good for Delly as a Cavs fan, with what he’s brought to the team over the years.

After nine years playing in the NBA, six with the Cavs, he’s headed back “down under.” With that in mind, I think I speak for the majority of Cavs fans when I say, good for him. He will head back to his home state of Victoria, to be the point guard for Melbourne.

Over his career in the NBA Dellavedova, who is set to play in his third Olympics with Australia in Tokyo, has averaged 5.5 points per game, 3.7 assists, and half a steal per game.

His dedication and commitment to the organization while he was in Cleveland is something that everyone will remember. If you want to re-live the 2015 NBA Finals, I would check out this old story by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

After Game 3 of the 2015 NBA Finals, which the Cavs won, Dellavedova had to be hospitalized and his whole body went into a cramp.

Next. Cleveland Cavaliers: 10 greatest guards in franchise history. dark

Delly always said he loved Cleveland, and Delly, we love you back.