‘Aggressive’ Delly impressing NBL legend

It would be an understatement to say that Matthew Dellavedova is looking to score more in his return to Melbourne United compared to his last stint with the club in NBL22.

The Aussie hoops legend has played a brand of basketball he’s seldom shown since his college days, looking to score each time he sees an opportunity.

The approach has impressed NBL and Melbourne Tigers legend Lanard Copeland, who believes this style will make United close to impossible to stop.

“Delly has changed his game,” he said on NBL Overtime.

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“Delly’s aggressive, and I love it because now team’s have to focus on him and Goulding and Travers, and you’ve got all these offensive guys, so if someone has a night off, you’ve got guys like Delly and Goulding who can knock down the three and get them back in the game.”

These sentiments were echoed by Liam Santamaria.

“I really like that as a mindset to start games with and start the season with,” Santamaria explained.

“We know he’s unselfish, we know he’s a leader and a defensive hound… but to start with that aggressive mindset and looking to score and punish the defence for sliding under based on all the work he’s done on his body and his stroke from the offseason, I think is a great way to begin the year.”

Across his first two games, Dellavedova is averaging 18 points per contest.

He will look to continue this offensive onslaught come Sunday afternoon, when United face off against the Tasmania JackJumpers in The Grassroots Game from 2pm.