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The Aussie sports star set to receive the Hollywood treatment

Former Cleveland Cavalier Matthew Dellavedova's life story is set to hit the silver screen.

Former Cleveland Cavalier Matthew Dellavedova's life story is set to hit the silver screen. Photo: Getty

Australian basketballer Matthew Dellavedova’s journey from regional Victoria to NBA champion will be told to the world in a Hollywood movie.

The 26-year-old’s management announced the upcoming film on Tuesday, saying the former Cleveland Cavaliers player’s life story is set for the silver screen.

Dellavedova and LeBron James linked up to win the NBA title earlier this season with Cleveland, before the Aussie moved to the Milwaukee Bucks in a mega-rich four-year deal.

“The film, in the same vein of great sports films like Hoosiers and Rocky, will touch on Delly’s early challenges growing up out in the bush of Australia and his improbable path to the NBA,” a statement promoting the film read.

Los Angeles-based movie producers Zachary Green and Jason Shuman will develop and produce the film, in conjunction with Dellavedova and his manager, Bruce Kaider.

The star could not contain his excitement, saying: “I am honoured that Bruce, Zachary and Jason think enough about my journey to turn it into a feature film.

“I am thrilled to be working with this incredible group to tell my story to inspire kids around the world to dream big and that hard work and perseverance pays off.”

Green added: “Everyone dreams of the one in a million chance of playing in the NBA, but this blue-collar kid actually achieved it.

“I am looking forward to bringing his story to the big screen.”

Dellavedova grew up in the Victorian country town of Maryborough, named by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2013 as the most disadvantaged local government area in the state.

While a release date for the movie is unclear, production is “anticipated to start” in Australia next year.

How it all came about

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Dellavedova celebrating the Cavs’ 2015 title win. Photo: Twitter

According to an ABC report in June 2015, producer Josh Howlett wrote a story for a film based on Australians, including Dellavedova, who played basketball for California’s Saint Mary’s College.

Howlett said at the time that “brilliant screenwriter” Bobby Galinsky had written a script for his plan, which had been received well in the United States.

He added that Jason Schuman was working with him.

Galinsky told The New Daily on Tuesday: “We’ve been working on it for a number of years.

“It’s been brewing for quite a while and just went official.

“It looks like it’s all good to next steps. It’s fantastic.”

The ‘Delly’ brand

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Dellavedova has become one of Australia’s most marketable sportsmen. Photo: Twitter

Since Dellavedova shot to prominence with the Cavaliers in 2015, his star has continued to rise.

He is now one of Australia’s most marketable sportsmen and is an ambassador for iconic US sports brand Spalding and breakfast drink Up&Go.

He even had his name attached to ‘G’day Mate’ Coffee, sold by Cleveland Coffee when he still played for the Cavaliers.

More recently, he released a sneak preview of his first signature shoe – the Delly 1 – as made by Chinese sportswear brand PEAK Sport.

The low tops were first shown off when Dellavedova returned to Melbourne in July.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ7fkwkO2TY

The green and gold Australian edition of his shoe was made especially for the Olympic Games but they are also available in Bucks colours, green and white.

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