- Report: Cavs believed to be targeting shooting help as deadline approaches
- Report: Cavs dangling Cedi Osman more than Caris LeVert in trade talks as they search for wing help
- Dean Wade sends stern warning to rest of NBA if Darius Garland isn’t named to All-Star Game
- Report: Kawhi Leonard and Paul George among several Clippers missing game vs. Cavs
- Cavs insider tells fans to keep an eye on Josh Hart as trade rumors swirl
- Report: Hawks big man John Collins has been connected to Cavs in trade rumors
- Report: Cavs not looking to trade Caris LeVert despite interest from teams like Lakers and Clippers
- Report: Cavs could likely get Doug McDermott for Dylan Windler and picks, though they may no longer want him
- Detroit Pistons insider believes team will target Caris LeVert this offseason
- Darius Garland uplifts Donovan Mitchell after he takes blame for Cavs loss vs. Knicks
J.R. Smith on Matthew Dellavedova’s competitiveness: ‘He was literally about to die in the playoff’
- Updated: June 2, 2022
Cleveland Cavaliers fans adore former guard Matthew Dellavedova.
In addition, his former teammates seem to have great respect for him as well. In a recent conversation with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Cavs champion J.R. Smith gloated about Dellavedova’s status as a competitor.
“I ain’t gonna lie,” Smith said when talking about competing. “Dellavedova on my team in Cleveland, he competed harder than anybody I’ve ever seen in my life, bro. He was literally about to die in the playoff. … We in the back after the game. Steph [Curry] almost killed this man.”
Dellavedova, 31, last played in the NBA during the 2020-21 campaign.
He suffered a severe concussion in the 2020 preseason, which was a big setback for him. He holds career averages of 5.5 points and 3.7 assists per contest.
The guard made a name for himself during the 2015 NBA Finals when the Cavs took on the mighty Golden State Warriors.
Then-Cavs star Kyrie Irving was held out for the majority of the 2015 Finals. In Irving’s absence, Dellavedova did his best to step up. He averaged 7.5 points, 2.7 boards, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game during the series. He got a lot of people talking with his defense on Curry.
Although the Cavs lost in six games to the Warriors in the 2015 Finals, they bounced back in a stellar way during the 2016 NBA Finals. Cleveland overcame a 3-1 deficit and heroically defeated the Warriors in seven games.
Dellavedova played in 20 games during the Cavs’ 2016 postseason run. He gathered averages of 3.9 points and 2.8 assists per contest during those playoffs.
Of course, fans know that Dellavedova often made an impact in ways outside of flashy scoring and assists. His tenacious hustle, defensive prowess and leadership skills never went overlooked.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login