While Kyrie Irving travels to New Orleans for NBA All-Star Weekend, Cavs’ reserve guard Matthew Dellavedova will travel to Moraga, California, where the #4 he wore at St. Mary’s College will be retired in a ceremony Saturday.
Dellavedova, an undrafted rookie for the Cavs who has become a source of instant energy and nuisance-style defense off the bench, is St. Mary’s all-time leader in career points, three-pointers, assists, free throw percentage, games played and games started. He is, in the the world of northern California college hoops, a bit of a legend.
Delly becomes only the second player in St. Mary’s history to have his number retired, joining Tom Meschery (some guy no one’s ever heard of who played in the NBA in the 60s).
Here is perhaps Delly’s most heroic NCAA moment, a running three-point buzzer beater to defeat BYU. (Video also includes rare footage of Delly’s Australian accent, as well as live comments from his affable, Aussie parents).
The Cavs take on the Pistons tonight with a chance to go into the All-Star break on a four-game winning streak.
This article appears in Feb 12-18, 2014.
Good for him, it’s always an honor to have your jersey retired at the school where you played. It doesn’t matter the size of the school, or what division they’re in either. Kudos to him on the achievement!
Dellavedova is one of a couple Cavs who have actually given a max effort when on the floor – no matter the situation or score – throughout this dysfunctional season.
Another chance to see the video I never get tired of seeing. Great honor for Delly