Sun Mar 23 16:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Dellavedova’s Classy MVP Gesture Steals the Show After Illawarra Hawks’ Championship Win
**Melbourne, Australia –** Melbourne United’s Matthew Dellavedova stunned the NBL world by relinquishing his championship series MVP trophy to Illawarra Hawks’ Will Hickey following the Hawks’ game-five victory on Sunday. Despite being named the Larry Sengstock Medallist, a decision questioned by Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman, Dellavedova, in a show of remarkable sportsmanship, presented the award to Hickey, the driving force behind Illawarra’s first title since 2001.
The win, secured with a 114-104 victory, saw Hickey deliver a near triple-double performance (21 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists), instrumental in overcoming a 10-point deficit in the first quarter. While Dellavedova had a consistent series, his performance in the final game was less impactful. His decision to hand over the MVP award, met with cheers from the crowd, was lauded by his coach.
“You win with class, and you lose with class,” Vickerman stated, praising Dellavedova’s exceptional gesture. “That’s one of the classiest things I’ve ever seen in an awards ceremony. Delly had an amazing series himself but for him to go and do that was exceptional.”
Vickerman, while acknowledging Dellavedova’s series contribution—highlighting his game-three performance as a defining moment— questioned the precedent of awarding the MVP to a player from the losing team, a rarity not seen since 1993. He expressed that giving the award to a member of the winning team would have been more appropriate. However, he heaped praise on Hickey, who previously played under Vickerman at Melbourne United. “What an amazing series from Davo Hickey,” he added.
The Larry Sengstock Medal is determined by a panel of experts, who based their decision on performances across the series. Dellavedova’s selfless act overshadowed the controversy surrounding the MVP selection, highlighting the spirit of sportsmanship and respect within the NBL.
First Piper 