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12 Teams Set For 2016 Olympics; 12 Storylines To Watch For In Rio

By Matthew Medley

Tony Parker playing for France to qualify for 2016 Rio Olympics (Photo by Frederic Stevens/Getty Images)
Tony Parker playing for France to qualify for 2016 Rio Olympics (Photo by Frederic Stevens/Getty Images) /
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 15: Matthew Dellavedova of the Boomers drives to the basket during the game one match between the Australian Boomers and New Zealand Tall Blacks at Rod Laver Arena on August 15, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 15: Matthew Dellavedova of the Boomers drives to the basket during the game one match between the Australian Boomers and New Zealand Tall Blacks at Rod Laver Arena on August 15, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images) /

6. Australia: Delly’s Time To Shine

It may sound crazy, but point guard Matthew Dellavedova has gone from being an undrafted free-agent just three years ago to an NBA champion slated to make nearly $40 million over the next four years.

Fans have come to know and love the Australian point guard, Delly, for his hard work and scrappy play.

He also has a reputation of being a dirty player, but proved his worth in the 2015-16 NBA regular season and playoffs, contributing valuable minutes for the Cavaliers in the quest for a championship.

Delly was a role player for the Cavs, but now will be a team leader for the Aussies. He is joined by fellow NBA players Joe Ingles, Patty Mills, Cameron Bairstow, Aron Baynes and Andrew Bogut (coming off a knee injury).

An interesting note about Team Australia is that it has three players who won the NBA Finals over the last three years in Mills (2014 with Spurs,) Bogut (2015 with Warriors) and Dellavedova (2016 with Cavaliers.) Maybe that championship pedigree will come into play at the international level.

The team is without Ben Simmons, Thon Maker and Dante Exum, three of Australia’s biggest young stars, so it will be up to Delly to lead a band of Boomers from down under to try and get through a competitive Group A.

Next: Revenge, Redemption The Goal