Matthew Dellavedova (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Matthew Dellavedova was virtually unknown for much of his basketball career until a golden opportunity gave him the spotlight at basketball’s grandest stage.
A depleted Cavaliers lineup forced the 26-year-old Aussie into the starring role during the 2015 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. His team would eventually lose in six games, but Dellavedova’s aggressive play gave him global recognition.
The once undrafted guard, who now plays for the Milwaukee Bucks, is set to become the basis for a Hollywood feature film. According to Fox Sports Australia, Los Angeles-based producers are looking to chronicle Delly’s life and path to the NBA, with production expected to begin in 2017.
“Delly’s inspirational story about overcoming the odds is one everyone can relate to,” Bruce Kaider, Dellavedova’s manager, said in the report. “In real life, it played out just like a movie.”
The film will reportedly try to emulate the underdog feel-good sport tales of Hoosiers and Rocky.
“Everyone dreams of the one in a million chance of playing in the NBA, but this clue-collar [sic] kid actually achieved it,” one of the producers of the film, Zachary Green, said. “I am looking forward to bringing his story to the big screen.”
It is worth noting that there are many players with far better career stats than Dellavedova, but his villainous reputation on the court seems too good for Hollywood to pass up.
Fellow players and coaches from the NBA has voted him as the “dirtiest player on the league” last season due to his blue collar-style and reckless approach on defense.
As of this writing, it remains unclear who will take the starring role for the film or if it will receive a wider release than Australia. Khristian Ibarrola