Delany willing to ‘give everything’ to win

With just over one-third of the Hungry Jack’s NBL26 season complete for Melbourne United, it is clear that our league-best 10-2 record through eight rounds is a result of a well balanced roster full of competitors willing to sacrifice to win.

One of the players that rings most true for is star forward, Finn Delany, who returned to the NBL with the sole goal of competing for a Championship.

Having filled the ‘connector’ role within our offence perfectly across the start of the season, it is in the last five games that we’ve seen the Kiwi star step forward into the spotlight offensively.

From Rounds 6-8, Delany is averaging 15.4 points per game while shooting the ball at over 65% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc.

Speaking to Melbourne United Media, Delany explained the shift in his mindset at that end of the floor.

“I’m trying to continually find the best version of myself,” Delany said.

“I’m trying to be super aggressive, get in the paint and get out in transition, make my open shots, just always be in attack mode. That’s going to be the best for me and draw attention from the really high level players around me.

“I really like my role within this system. I think that the players I’m playing with and the environment is geared towards getting the best out of everyone. It aligns with the way I like to go about things and like to play.

“It’s helping me be the best version of myself and hopefully I’m helping others do the same.”

Closely mirroring the numbers from Delany’s All-NBL campaign in NBL21, Head Coach Dean Vickerman says he’s not surprised the versatile forward has been so successful across the past five games, and won’t put a ceiling on what he’s able to achieve across the rest of the season.

“He’s been aggressive and confident, pulling the three-ball without hesitation, making quick decisions to attack the paint or get to the line,” Vickerman explained.

“It’s hard to judge if this is the best he’s ever played because I wasn’t there when he was in Europe and Japan, but he’s certainly at a really high level right now.

“I never like to put a ceiling on anyone in terms of saying ‘is this their best basketball’ but we’re very happy with how he’s performing.”

Delany’s spectacular play extends to the defensive side of the ball, with Vickerman stating at multiple times across the season that he should be firmly in the running for the league’s Best Defensive Player award.

Unconcerned with individual accolades, the Nelson native laughed when talking about the award.

“I don’t know if I can call myself the best when we have Shea Ili on the team,” Delany chuckled.

“I play a lot of guys that are bigger than me, as well as a lot of guys that are faster, so I just have to always give 100% at that end of the court no matter who I’m matched up with.

“It’s about being physical, making hustle plays, diving on the floor. I think that stuff will help me be one of the better defensive players in the league. I just try and give everything at that end of the floor. 

“Every successful team I’ve been a part of has that as a focus. That’s how you win championships.”

With Ili, a two-time NBL Best Defensive Player and four-time United Defensive Player of the Year winner on the sidelines since Round 2, it has been Delany setting the tone at that end of the floor, acting as a rising tide lifting all ships when it comes to shutting down opposing teams.

“Defensively, he’s been exceptional all season. His physicality really drives our defence, especially with Shea out. When he’s motivated, everyone is going to follow him,” said Vickerman.

“We’ve been tracking deflections this season and in the game against the Phoenix he had seven, so adding that hand pressure to the physicality makes him really difficult to deal with. That kind of effort ignites our offence and pace.

“It’s the kind of person we want at our club, to tell you the truth. He’ll be recognised internally for the things he’s doing for the team and I’m sure at some point, people outside our walls will recognise his value at both ends to us winning games.”

Ultimately, Delany just wants to win, and is willing to do whatever it takes to help lead his new team one step further than the past two seasons.

“Winning comes with sacrifice and winning comes with buy-in.

“Players on this team understand that the game is won in those one-percenters, so those are plays we always want to celebrate. There’s a lot of great scorers playing basketball, but it’s in those moments that winning happens.”

Delany and United will hit the court for their next game on Saturday 15 November for the club’s Member Appreciation Game at John Cain Arena from 7:30pm against the Brisbane Bullets.

Tickets are selling fast, so if you haven’t already, get in quick to secure your seat.

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