Andrew Bogut, the 10-year NBA veteran a day away from playing in his first championship game, walked up to the podium.

“It’s kind of strange,” said the 213cm centre from Melbourne with a smile, looking around at the spectacle before him.

A short time later Matthew Dellavedova walked up to a nearby podium, looked around and also gave a smile.

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“As a kid growing up in Australia, this was definitely a goal,” Dellavedova said.

Can LeBron James get another championship ring? Photo: Getty

Bogut, the opinionated defensive backbone of the Golden State Warriors, and Dellavedova, the quietly-spoken Cleveland Cavaliers point guard from country Victoria, come face-to-face on Thursday (Friday 11am AEST) in game one of the NBA Finals.

It’s the first time two Australians will compete against each other in the NBA’s best-of-seven championship series.

As part of the Finals hype the venue for the first two games, the Warriors’ 20,000-seat Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, became a media circus for two hours on Wednesday with podiums rolled out onto the court.

“New questions please,” joked Bogut, jaded from talking to the media throughout the playoffs.

Dellavedova didn’t make any requests, but his face revealed he was tired of being asked about being tagged a dirty player by a few in the US press recently.

“I obviously disagree,” Dellavedova responded.

The Finals are a dream match-up for the NBA.

The Warriors have the best regular-season record and the most dangerous shooting combination of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

The Cavaliers are headed by LeBron James, who is playing in his fifth straight NBA Finals and quit the Miami Heat last season to return to his home state of Ohio and the team that drafted him.

The two Australians have their own stories.

“It’s been a long road and this is the ultimate goal for any NBA player or any professional basketball player,” said Bogut, 30, who has overcome fractured ankles, a dislocated elbow and other injuries.

While Bogut was the No.1 pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, 24-year-old Dellavedova was overlooked in 2013 but fought his way onto the Cavaliers’ list last season and has become one of James’ key lieutenants.

“I love Delly,” said James, so much in demand that he didn’t receive a podium but was given a large press conference room.

“What he brings to our team is toughness and grit, determination. Just tries to beat all the odds. I love you Australian guys. You guys are cool.”

Matthew Dellavedova gets a shot off. Photo: Getty

Dellavedova revealed he’d received guidance from Australian Boomers colleague Patty Mills who helped the San Antonio Spurs to last year’s title.

“I’ve talked to Patty just in general about a lot of things, and he’s always great,” Dellavedova said. “He has given me little tips and advice.”

Bogut has spoken with Luc Longley, who won three straight championships with Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls from 1996 to 1998 and played a similar role.

“Luc and I met the other day.” Bogut said. “He told me, ‘This is the whole reason you done everything you done since you were a young fellow so make the most of it. There will likely be some nerves but it will be something you’ll remember your whole life’.”

The Warriors, favourites to win the championship, have been bolstered by Thompson being cleared after suffering a concussion and back-up centre Marreese Speights will likely play after overcoming a calf strain.

Cavaliers’ starting point guard Kyrie Irving will play, but is yet to overcome knee tendinitis and said he would fight through the pain.

As for Bogut and Dellavedova, who will be team-mates at next year’s Olympics, there hasn’t been any humorous text messages or phone calls between them in the lead-up to the biggest games of their lives.

“No, we’re on no-speaking terms until the end of the Finals,” Bogut said.

When Dellavedova was told this he laughed.

“Did he?” Dellavedova said with a surprised look.

“I’ll probably just say ‘G’day’ and catch up with him after the series then.”

NBA FINALS BREAKDOWN

– Warriors had the NBA’s best regular-season record with 67 wins, 15 losses.

– Cavaliers had 53 wins, 29 losses.

– Warriors guard Stephen Curry is the reigning NBA MVP. James is a four-time MVP.

– James will be playing in his fifth straight NBA Finals, having reached four and won two with Miami.

– On January 9 the Warriors beat the Cavaliers 112-94 and on February 26 the Cavaliers won 110-99. The victors were on their home courts.

– The Warriors haven’t won an NBA title since 1975 while the Cavaliers have never won one.

– AAP