In a moment that reminded the sports world what true class looks like, Matthew Dellavedova made headlines not for what he won, but for what he gave away.
After Melbourne United fell to the Illawarra Hawks in a gripping five-game NBL Finals series, Dellavedova was named the Larry Sengstock Medallist as the series MVP. Despite his team losing the championship, the former NBA champion and fan-favorite delivered a series filled with gritty leadership, clutch playmaking, and elite consistency, averaging 14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 6.2 assists across five games.
Yet, as the announcement echoed through WIN Entertainment Centre, jeers rained down. The crowd — and much of the basketball world — believed there was another who had earned the honor more: Will “Davo” Hickey.
Hickey was electric for Illawarra. The 24-year-old guard averaged 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game, including a near triple-double (21 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists) in Game 5. He was the emotional heartbeat of the Hawks, igniting their comeback in Game 4 and fueling their fairytale title win — Illawarra’s first championship since 2001.
Dellavedova, fully aware of the situation and never one to seek the spotlight, used his MVP speech to redirect the moment.
“Davo, this really belongs to you,” Delly said on stage, holding the trophy before walking straight into the Hawks’ huddle and placing it into Hickey’s hands.
Matthew Dellavedova won NBL Finals MVP despite his team losing the series. Believing Hawks guard Will Hickey earned it more, Delly gave him the trophy after Hickey put up 21/10/8 in Game 5 🙏
Pure class.
(h/t @TommyBeer )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 23, 2025
The stunned Hawks bench erupted in cheers, the crowd followed suit, and just like that, the moment became an instant classic in Australian basketball lore.
Even Hickey, visibly emotional, tried to give the trophy back. But the gesture had already spoken volumes.
The controversy stemmed from the NBL’s MVP voting process, which awards points game-by-game in a 3-2-1 format across the series. Dellavedova, who had more consistently high-impact performances throughout, tallied the most total votes.
Hickey, while sensational in the final two games, likely lost out due to Illawarra’s more balanced scoring in the earlier matchups — with Trey Kell and Tyler Harvey also having their moments.
Still, stats alone couldn’t measure the gravity of Hickey’s contributions when the title was on the line. His Game 5 performance, in particular, embodied everything fans expect from an MVP — resilience, leadership, and game-changing energy.
Dellavedova’s gesture will be remembered for more than just its humility. It was a lesson in perspective. For a man who has won at the highest level — capturing an NBA title with LeBron James and the Cavaliers in 2016 — Delly reminded everyone that greatness isn’t always defined by accolades, but by the respect you earn from your peers.
As Illawarra celebrated their title and Hickey hoisted the trophy Delly gave him, fans across the world stood witness to a rare sports moment that transcended rivalry. One that, in many ways, showed that in losing, Matthew Dellavedova may have just won something far greater.
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