These are heady days for one of Australia's top basketball players.
In the past few months alone, Matthew Dellavedova helped the Cleveland Cavaliers win their first NBA title, joined the Milwaukee Bucks in a $38 million sign-and-trade deal, played in the Olympics and got engaged.
Dellavedova is expected to play a larger role with the Bucks than he did with Cleveland, where he built a reputation as a tenacious defender. Heading into his first season in Milwaukee, we caught up with the scrappy fourth-year pro to talk about life on and off the court.
Q: With Jason Kidd as your coach, you're getting a chance to play for one of the game's great point guards. What kind of relationship do the two of you have?
A: We're just getting to know each other. He's been offering tips on what he sees out there. There's no better [situation] as a point guard as having a coach that played the same position at the highest level for a long, long time. It's been great so far, and we're looking forward to the season.
Q: Has he given you specific pointers, or is it more general advice?
A: It's been general, about leading guys and things like that. On the court, different passes or pushing the break. He also brought John Stockton into training camp, so it was really cool to be able to ask him some questions as well.
Q: How good can the Bucks be this season, and what will it take for the team to reach that potential?
A: Obviously, losing Khris [Middleton], to a torn hamstring was a big loss. But with the youth and unlimited potential of Giannis [Antetokounmpo] and Jabari [Parker] and the young core of guys, I think a lot of improvement will come from within from those guys. The other guys who have been brought in [Michael Beasley, Orlando Johnson and Jason Terry, plus draft picks Thon Maker and Malcolm Brogdon] have to help complement those guys. We brought in some shooters, so if we can help space the floor it will help this team a lot.
Q: With the Bucks, you get to play a bigger role and log more minutes. How does that change your approach on the court?
A: You have to be smart about taking care of your body and those sort of things, but you always want to compete and play hard. So I don't think it really changes too much.
Q: So you won't be changing your aggressiveness on the defensive end of the floor?
A: We need to be a good defensive team to win games, so we definitely need to play hard on that end.
Q: You got to play with LeBron James for three years, including winning the championship last season. What did you learn by watching him?
A: One of the biggest things I took away was just how well he takes care of his body and the amount of work he puts in every day to make sure that he can bring it every night. ... It was great to have that experience and be able to learn from one of the best.
Q: You recently got engaged to your college sweetheart. Have the two of you decided when and where the wedding will be?
A: Not yet. We've just moved to a new city, and there are a few things to sort out first.
Best teammate I'll ever have 💍 #MrsDelly pic.twitter.com/GehsJrsZAM
— Matthew Dellavedova (@matthewdelly) September 11, 2016
Q: You get to play with another Australian in rookie big man Thon Maker. What are your early impressions of him?
A: He really impresses me as aggressive on the offensive boards. He's a great athlete, and he has a great shooting touch as well. He needs to get stronger and put on a little bit of weight, but with how hard he works and how hard he plays, I think he's got all the potential as well. I think he will be a great player.
Q: You've made quite an impression on the fans in Chicago. When they boo you, does that serve as motivation, or do you even notice?
A: It's not extra motivation. You don't really need that. I could definitely hear them the other night. Obviously, [the Cavaliers] had a tough, physical series against them a couple years ago. They have great fans, so they go right into it.
Q: You recently attended a Green Bay Packers game. Are you all in on becoming a cheesehead?
A: When we moved into our house, our realtor gave us a couple cheeseheads. I've never really [supported] a football team, so I'm a cheesehead now.
Go Pack Go!🧀🧀 pic.twitter.com/MzAKdvCFcv
— Matthew Dellavedova (@matthewdelly) September 25, 2016
