AN AUSTRALIAN basketball great has drawn comparisons between an eight-time NBA All-Star and Maryborough’s favourite son Matthew Dellavedova.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Chris Anstey, who became the fourth Australian ever to be drafted to the NBA when taken by the Portland Trailblazers with pick 17 in the 1997 draft, described Dellavedova as a ‘wonderful example’ of success through hard work.
Anstey, who spent three seasons in the NBA with Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls in the late 90s and early 2000s, was in Bendigo on Monday to spend time with local SEDA College students.
The three-time National Basketball League champion and two-time league MVP, compared Dellavedova, who recently completed his second season with Milwaukee Bucks following three with Cleveland Cavaliers, with Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash.
Nash and Anstey were team-mates for two seasons at the Mavericks.
“I have seen (Dellavedova’s) career in very similar light to how I saw Steve Nash’s, in so far as he has extracted every single piece of ability from his body,” Anstey said.
“He didn’t become an NBA champion because he was the tallest, fastest, most athletic, or naturally gifted player, he just made it and was able to be successful because he worked harder than everybody else.
“He is a wonderful example of where you can get to and what you are capable of if you are willing to be uncomfortable.
“I don’t think many young people, or in fact many adults these days, figure out what they are actually capable of doing because they are not willing to be uncomfortable.
“I think Delly is someone, who when he looks back on his career, will be very comfortable that he has extracted everything he can from his career.”
Anstey insisted Dellavedova, who won a NBA championship with the Cavaliers in 2015-16, was still a perfect fit for the Bucks.
“He is suited to being around a superstar – he was fantastic for LeBron James, he didn’t need to get the ball, but he came out and defended,” he said.
“In Milwaukee he has Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is learning to be a superstar, but I think Delly’s role will always be as a genuine facilitator for a superstar, whether that’s with Milwaukee or someone else.”
Anstey, who is a SEDA ambassador, said he was keen to share experiences from his journey in basketball and life with Bendigo students.
“I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by successful people in their own right in a number of areas, but primarily sport, and you learn lots from watching those people,” he said.
“The ability to share those stories resonates pretty well with kids.
“I don’t think the sport you play or job you do dictates who you can gain information from, but sports does pretty much translate to everything else in life.
“You have to work hard, and you have to work as part of a team – it still comes back to trying to be a better version of yourself.”
SEDA College facilitator Carl Hardingham said despite only one of the Bendigo students being aligned to basketball – with the others a mix of Australian rules, netball cricket and soccer – all would have benefited from Anstey’s input.
“To hear Chris speak about his NBA experience and his NBL days and be able to relate that to the life-skills he has learned along the way, is amazing for our students,” he said.
Praise for new stadium
Chris Anstey has added his voice to the chorus of praise for Bendigo Stadium’s redevelopment.
The new stadium, which seats 4000 fans, was used for the first time on Friday night, when the Bendigo Braves men’s and women’s teams hosted SEABL rivals Sandringham Sabres.
Former NBA star Anstey said he had recollections of practicing and playing on the former show court during an Australian Boomers training camp.
“It looks fantastic and I love the way they have done it – it reminds me a lot of the Adelaide 36ers stadium, but a newer version,” he said.
“During the day it’s able to be used as three basketball courts, roll the stands out and you have a 4000-seat stadium. It looks fantastic.
“Even from Melbourne, we know Bendigo is a fantastic region and club.
“With the push to regional (for major sporting events), having a facility like this gives us organisers no excuse not to come here.”