They chose the paper because Dellavedova had put on Instagram the Advertiser's front page that day, which was devoted to him, including a change of livery from blue-and-white to the Cavs' wine and gold. But, really, they could have knocked on any door.

Mr Popular: Matthew Dellavedova's jersey sales have soared. Credit:Getty Images

Reportedly, there is a Delly poster or a message for him in every shop window, and a hashtag campaign (#boroughbacksdelly), and The Age has it on good authority that the school Dellavedova attended and where his mother still teaches is, well, massaging timetables so that kids can see their alumnus in action. Advertiser sports editor Grant Condon spent Tuesday morning in a cluster around the television, watching game three and postponing lunch, and he is certain it was the same all over town. Even some with little previous basketball awareness are asking: "So, how many games do they play?"

Being country, there are no degrees of separation. There are Dellavedovas all over town, though seemingly half are in the US at the moment. The receptionist at the shire offices says her children used to play with Delly in under-12s. Matt Johnson still plays one-on-one with him when he comes home. "I used to beat him when we were little," he said, "but not so much any more." Footy club president Terry Hillier, who also teaches at the school, remembers toddler Delly at a barbecue at his parents' place. "He would have been three or four, and he could dribble a ball unbelievably," he said. "He didn't have it out of his hands."

But there must be 100,000 Dellys from Maryborough around the world, so many that despite a college career so decorated that St Marys retired his singlet, NBA clubs did not spare him a backward glance, and some - Charles Barkley for one - still can't see what others see in him. Barkley, as Shane Heal will tell you, dislikes uppity Australian basketballers.