Sport
13 January, 2026
Dellavedova suffers head knock in Kings victory
Matthew Dellavedova’s ambitions of making a third consecutive NBL Grand Final series appearance have been thrown a scary curveball, with the Maryborough product suffering an accidental head knock in the Sydney Kings’ 97-94 win over Melbourne United on Sunday.
Since joining the Kings after winning the NBL Grand Final MVP in United’s Grand Final defeat to the Illawarra Hawks last season, Dellavedova has been a key contributor, averaging nine points, 4.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds a game.
After their 2025 season ended in agony with a Play-In Qualifier defeat to the Adelaide 36ers, the Kings find themselves on the fringes of the automatic playoff places with six rounds left, jumping into third with a 15-9 record after their hard-fought win over Dellavedova’s former team.
The vital result came at a price, as the undermanned Kings lost Dellavedova in the second quarter following an accidental collision with United rising star Dash Daniels, brother of Atlanta Hawks’ Dyson Daniels in the NBA.
After starting the game red-hot with 11 points and three three-pointers in just 11 minutes on the floor, Dellavedova’s head contacted Daniels’ hip as he attempted to go around Daniels following a pump-fake. The impact caused Dellavedova to hit his head on the floor.
The Maryborough product was helped off the court after the clash and received medical attention.
Dellavedova has a long history of concussions, which have threatened his playing career at times during stints in both the NBA and NBL.
The Kings are biting their nails for the full assessment of the 35-year-old, with the incident the latest in a litany of injuries that have taken out former league MVP Xavier Cooks and fellow starter Bul Kuol as they eye their sixth NBL championship.