Mercury (Hobart)

DELLY: I’LL BE FIT FOR BOOMERS

- MATT LOGUE

MATTHEW Dellavedov­a has given Boomers officials his assurances that he will be ready for the Tokyo Olympics, despite suffering a neck injury.

Dellavedov­a, who missed the NBA season’s first 47 games because of a severe

concussion and whiplash, is sidelined with a neck strain suffered on April 25.

He hasn’t been with the team in any capacity since the injury and is set to sit out the rest of Cleveland’s season, which finishes on May 16.

The Cavaliers are secondlast in the Eastern Conference,

with no chance of making the playoffs.

Boomers coach Brian Goorjian recently contacted Australian assistant coaches in America, who had spoken to Dellavedov­a about the extent of his injury.

Goorjian revealed the veteran guard declared he is

committed to Australia’s Tokyo Olympic campaign, which begins on July 23.

“He (Delly) said he was fine,” Goorjian said.

“He didn’t think he would play the rest of the NBA season, but he would be ready for the Boomers.”

It follows Goorjian recently

declaring he will give Dellavedov­a “every opportunit­y” to prove his fitness for the Tokyo Olympics, knowing how important he is to the team’s medal chances.

“He is certainly a huge part of this Olympic campaign,” he said about Dellavedov­a, who will most likely play off the bench in Tokyo if NBA star Ben Simmons commits.

“He is one of the key culture guys in the importance of the green and gold ... so everything possible will be done to have him available, healthy and ready to play.”

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