Evidently I don’t read Chad Ford’s blogs enough. A few days ago Ford wrote a piece (you’ll need an ESPN Insider account) on a “few breakout players that scouts can’t stop talking about”. Included in that blog, was a very important bit of news for Aussie NBA Fans. Here’s an excerpt:
For the second straight year, NBA scouts are raving about an Australian point guard playing at St. Mary’s. Last year it was Patty Mills getting all the love (before going into a horrific draft-night slide). This year freshman Matthew Dellavedova is garnering all of the attention.
Dellavedova is nothing like Mills. Mills was a diminutive, lightening-quick point guard who could score in bunches. Dellavedova is much bigger (he’s listed at 6-4) and can shoot the lights out. Mills was often compared to Tony Parker. Dellavedova is getting Steve Nash comparisons. He’s off to a terrific start averaging 14 ppg, shooting 42 percent from 3 and sporting an impressive 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
I doubt he’s a one-and-done player, but he’s being mentioned in virtually every conversation I have with NBA sources.
I added that bold-underlined myself to emphasize what a ridiculously awesome comparison that is. Could it be? An Aussie Steve Nash?
I’ve heard of Matthew Dellavedova’s name before – first at JR’s blog back in August – but I haven’t read such a glowing scout report like that from American writers before. So if you’re not familiar with the next potential Aussie NBA Hope, I suggest you do a bit of scouting of your own, because when stuff like that starts hitting ESPN you can bet the hype train is just around the corner. Here’s his Draft Prospect page on ESPN, which lists the following:
Draft Projection: Second round to undrafted
Positives:
Negatives:
In other words, STEVE NASH.
Big cheers to Ryan from Two Sides of the Hoop for landing this one in my inbox.
Tags: Matthew Dellavedova, Steve Nash
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10 Comments until now.
The second coming of M V Steve!
If that comparison is accurate i don’t think “second round to undrafted” will stay that way for long.
I saw him play for the Boomers over the offseason and he was impressive. He’s a hounding defender as well.
i’m taking the ultra low expectations approach.
@ Braydon a hounding defender you say? then he is nothing like Steve Nash.
Well from what i saw…just always up in people’s faces not giving them any room to move.
have seen the kid play. love his intensity and he’s a born winner. lets just not put too much pressure on him eh?
That certainly is a glowing appraisal! I’d wondered what this kid was like when he found himself on the Boomers and this is as good a description as what I’ve read.
Definitely just what the Australian team needs, when we’ve gone through a period where we struggle to get a decent point guard to play, mainly due to injuries and lack of promising youth.
Patty will be better.
I didnt think he looked that good as a boomer. solid, but he definitely didnt knock my socks off. My socks stayed firmly on my feet.
[...] Great article on Matty D via NBAMate.com [...]
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