Battler Dellavedova keeps NBA dream alive in fitting fashion

Playing with Melbourne United in the NBL, barely a press conference went by last season without Matthew Dellavedova being asked about a possible NBA return. Each time, the eight-year league veteran would stoically remain adamant that a return to the United States was firmly his goal.

Internally, Dellavedova was hopeful, though he had no idea if and when an opportunity would present.

The wheels began to turn when Sacramento Kings head coach, Mike Brown made contact to assess his mindset at the beginning of the offseason. Brown coached Dellavedova in Cleveland during his rookie season in 2013-14, with the pair having a strong understanding of what to expect from each other.

"I got a call from Coach Brown to see if I wanted to go to Las Vegas and workout with the team for a few days. I did that and things kind of went from there," Dellavedova told ESPN.

"It was more them seeing if I was healthy, how I was moving and things like that. They'd seen that I played in the NBL and the recent Boomers series but wanted to see how I was moving and looking."

Battling through training camp and preseason on a non-guaranteed deal fits the Dellavedova career story arc, though the circumstances are far different from that initial rookie deal in Cleveland, with the 32-year-old firmly entrenched in a different stage of life.

"I was weighing it up. You never know how you will feel until an opportunity pops up. I was in a really good situation with Melbourne, I loved my season there, it was one of the most enjoyable ones I've had. They're an unbelievable club with great people so leaving that on the table for an opportunity that wasn't guaranteed, I had to weigh that up.

"I wasn't guaranteed anything apart from the opportunity. I had to bet on myself that I was going to make it work. I'd done that once before in Cleveland in my first season, but it's a little different when you have a wife and two kids. You want to be in a stable living situation and I'm extremely lucky to have a very supportive wife who wants me to go for it."

Matthew and wife Anna recently welcomed their second child to the world, which added to the anxiety in the lead up to final roster cuts on the eve of NBA opening night.

"Her parents were helping out, my parents and one of my sisters came over to help out, everyone was pitching in to help make things easier so I could really let it rip and go for it."

"I thought I had a really good training camp, played well in the preseason games but then they brought everyone in last Saturday. As it gets closer, those last couple of nights are pretty much sleepless. I was feeling sick in my stomach because I wasn't sure what I was going to do if it didn't work out."

Dellavedova has been praised for his presence in the locker room during his short time in Sacramento, with his influence around young rising guards, De'Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell and added benefit of his place on the roster.

"The biggest thing is just trying to help the younger guys and the younger point guards we have. There are little things that help teams win and they're both incredible players already and really skilled and talented and playing at a high level but how can they make their teammates better?

"I can take a bit of a load off them and bring the team together and make sure we're focusing on the important things of what it takes to win. I think there's a ton of talented players here, it's just helping to keep it all together because over the course of a season there are a lot of ups and downs."

The leadership aspect is expected, though Dellavedova pushes back on the idea that he is simply an extension of the coaching staff, with the desire to play the true driving force after his final few NBA seasons were derailed by a serious concussion among other ailments.

"I still feel I have a lot to offer, it's a long season and everyone is going to get a chance to play at some point. It's just what you do when you get that opportunity. I'd say right now my body and game is feeling as good as it's ever felt which is really exciting for me.

"There's been a lot of ups and downs the last few years but I'm just really happy that I've been able to stick with it even when things aren't going well or you're not playing well. I have to give a big shout out to Paul McCoy, my (St Mary's) college teammate, he's been working me out the last few years, we've spent every day together this summer and I wouldn't have made this team without his help."

"I don't feel I have anything to prove to anyone else, but I just wanted to prove it to myself. I feel after the Boomers series I was playing as good as I've played, my body is feeling good, I hoped I would get an opportunity to come back and prove myself, but you never know if you'll get that opportunity."

Dellavedova earned his place back in the NBA the hard way. Fitting really.

"Either way I was going to be happy I went for it because I just can't die wondering what could have been, I'd rather go for it and miss out than not know."