Matthew Dellavedova
An undrafted Australian guard who became an NBA champion by playing with a relentless, floor-burning intensity that defined his career.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Australian basketball player·Birthday: September 8·Millennials
Biography
Matthew Dellavedova's path to professional basketball was anything but guaranteed. Hailing from Maryborough, Victoria, he honed his game at Saint Mary's College in California, where his gritty play and sharp passing turned heads. The NBA didn't call his name on draft night, but he fought his way onto the Cleveland Cavaliers roster in 2013. His career was forged in a specific, chaotic mold: the defensive pest, the dive-on-the-floor hustler, the player who could disrupt an opponent's flow with sheer will. This role reached its zenith in 2016, when his energetic play off the bench helped the Cavaliers secure their historic NBA championship. Beyond the league, he has been a stalwart for the Australian Boomers, his steady hand and experience crucial in helping the team finally break through for an Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Matthew was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matthew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Matthew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
- Earned an Olympic bronze medal with the Australian national team at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
- Named the NBL Most Valuable Player for the Sydney Kings in the 2022-23 season.
Did You Know?
He was nicknamed 'Delly' and 'Outback Jesus' by Cleveland Cavaliers fans for his scrappy play and long hair.
He and his wife Anna founded the Dellavedova Family Fund, focusing on children's health and education initiatives.
He played college basketball for Saint Mary's Gaels, becoming one of their most decorated players.
“You've got to be ready when your number is called, and you've got to be ready to do whatever it takes to help the team win.”
