(Sports) Feature: Matthew Dellavedova's rise to NBA fame no surprise to proud Australian fans

While the eyes of millions of Americans were focused on the bustling, metropolitan city of Cleveland this week, people of a small Australian town are also glued to their television screens.

Matthew Dellavedova, the current darling of American sport and the man whose exploits in the NBA playoffs have had basketball commentators in a swoon, hails from Maryborough in country Victoria.

The gritty point guard has been instrumental in an undermanned Cleveland's effort to hold the Championship series at 2 wins each; even superstar teammate LeBron James this week described him as a man of "steel."

Thrust into the starting role due to an injury to laconic Cavaliers's guard Kyrie Irving, the rugged, bearded Australian has performed well above his level against league MVP Stephen Curry and helped the Cavs shut down the Golden State Warriors' record- breaking offense in the second and third matches of the series.

Dellavedova, on the biggest stage in his life, has been thrilling crowds three times the size of his hometown, where he played Australian football and basketball as a junior.

His parents, although described by Dellavedova as fine amateur athletes in their day, never rose to the lofty heights at which their son now resides.

But it could also seem that no one from the small town has, for "Delly" has cemented himself as Maryborough's biggest international export.

As a result, the town has been struck down with "Delly fever" and Maryborough District Advertiser editor Kirsty Johnston told Xinhua on Friday that it was inescapable.

"It's quite tense during games, and if you speak to people just after games, they've all watched it," she said. "You'd be surprised how many are talking about it, a lot of people you might not expect."

Last week, before the start of the finals, the paper even changed its colors to the wine and gold of the Cleveland Cavaliers, something Dellavedova praised from his Instagram.

Johnston said Dellavedova oozes passion for his home town and the population couldn't have asked for a better ambassador.

"We've been following his journey since he left for America, but there's a lot more chatter around now that there's so much more attention given to him," she said.

Dellavedova was born and raised in Maryborough. His parents, grandparents and other family still live in the small town.

"When he comes back to Australia he always comes home, not only to see everyone but he runs a junior clinic here, so he spends a lot of time practicing at the stadium."

Dellavedova's scrappy style of play came under fire on the road to the finals, but it endeared him to city of Cleveland, as well as fans in Australia.

To them, he just plays hard ball. Johnston said the Australian' s tenacity is a reflection of his demeanor - he is hard-working and determined to succeed, no matter the level at which he plays.

"There's no criticism from Maryborough and there have only been positive the way he plays," she said. "No one is surprised by the way he is playing and throwing himself 100 percent into each match. "

Through his tough-as-nails approach, Dellavedova's cult status in Cleveland rose. For the man being paid the least of any other player in the finals, he approaches the game with an almost negligent doggedness that no other player dares to match.

But it's the body on the line that Cleveland fans have craved. It's a passion the city has needed for the last 45 years since its inception, for the Cavs have never won an NBA Championship.

Even team mate and four-time league MVP LeBron James continues to throw plaudits the way of the plucky, 6-foot-four guard.

"He's made of steel or something," James said after the team's game 3 win earlier in the week.

Social media was abuzz after that match, with some diehards calling for "Delly" to be immortalized in bronze outside the team' s stadium in Cleveland.

Johnston said that might be a stretch, but there was a better chance it would happen in Maryborough.

"It's definitely something we should ask the people to see what they think," she said.

In the meantime, the town will have to settle for the local stadium being renamed in his honor. 3AW radio reported on Thursday that it would henceforth be known as the "Dellavedova Dome" in homage to their local NBA hero.

While the population of 2 million in the greater Cleveland area might have fallen for the underdog story, it was the population of fewer than 8,000 that was cheering the hardest when game 4 took place in Cleveland on Friday (Australian time).

The Cavaliers might be undermanned and injury-ravaged heading into the back stretch of the series, but while Dellavedova continues to defy the odds, so too can his underdog team.

The Cavaliers and the Warriors currently split the best-of- seven series 2-2, with the next match to be played in Oakland on Tuesday. Endi