Australian NBA guard Matthew Dellavedova can’t wait to join the Boomers for their home internationals this August but don’t expect to see him make a permanent return any time soon.
Dellavedova’s Cleveland Cavaliers play the final game of their season on Wednesday and the Maryborough-raised guard won’t be in uniform as he continues his recovery from a prolonged concussion.
But the 28-year-old will be champing at the bit to play with the Boomers in August as they play two games against Canada in Perth and two games against Team USA at Marvel Stadium before heading to China for the FIBA World Cup starting on August 31.
Dellavedova has one year left in his NBA deal and, unless a trade happens, he will likely play out that contract with the Cavaliers next season before entering free agency before the Tokyo Olympics.
‘‘I love it here and I’ve slotted straight back in at the Cavs but in the NBA you never know where you will be playing next,’’ Dellavedova said.
‘‘I’d love to keep playing here.’’
Many in the NBL have wondered if next year could be when the NBA championship winner returns home but he told Australian journalists on Tuesday he planned to remain in the NBA for some time yet but wanted to finish his career in the NBL.
‘‘I definitely want to continue playing over here [the NBA] for as long as I can,’’ Dellavedova said. ‘‘Obviously I’d love to play in the NBL one day and it would be a lot easier for my family to come and watch.’’
This season has been a roller-coaster one for Dellavedova who started the campaign with the Milwaukee Bucks as they chased an NBA title led by Greek superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Dellavedova struggled to make a role for himself early but, as he has done other seasons, he backed himself to work his way into the heart of new coach Mike Budenholzer. But in early December, ‘‘Delly’’ as he is known was traded to the Cavaliers, his first NBA club, and within days went from playing with the Bucks to playing against them.
‘‘It’s been a bit up and down,’’ Dellavedova said.
‘‘There was the trade and then getting some good games in and then getting hurt after the All-Star Break.
‘‘But I’m looking forward to having a good off-season, getting in good shape and working on my game and then getting into the Boomers’ stuff and rolling that form into the next season.’’
In his first few games Dellavedova made a difference as a veteran performer alongside a very young team but a troublesome concussion has forced him out since March 8 under the league’s concussion protocol.
‘‘It has dragged out longer than anyone wanted,’’ Dellavedova said.
‘‘I had one before that cleared up pretty quick but this has dragged out. You can’t push through it like an ankle or something like that.
‘‘It has been a boring rehab but I’m feeling a lot better, I’ve just run out of time to get back on the court.’’
This season is the first time in four seasons that Dellavedova won’t be involved in the NBA playoffs and he is not happy about it.
But he plans to use the extra time to prepare for the Boomers campaign.
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