Driven by expectation: Why Delany chose United

Photos: Melbourne United Media

“The expectation to win” was a driving force behind Finn Delany’s decision to join Melbourne United.

United has made Finals in seven of its last eight seasons under Dean Vickerman, playing in five Championship Series' along the way.

“As a competitor you always have that want to win, which is one of the reasons why Melbourne United was so attractive to me… there’s a desire and expectation to win,” Delany told the club’s website.

Having last played with the New Zealand Breakers in the Hungry Jack’s NBL24 Season, the 29-year-old has since spent time in Spain, and more recently Japan, where he won All-Star Five honours in the Basketball Champions League Asia tournament.

“Coming into a new club in Melbourne United and a league I’ve been away from for a few years, it’s all about being flexible, playing off really good players and creating advantages where possible,” he said.

Delany has been working closely with two-time champion and assistant coach Dave Barlow, who played 227 games with United.

“He (Barlow) has been huge already,” Delany explained. “I’m excited to be working with him this season. I have so much respect for what he achieved at United and playing internationally. We played at the same club in Spain at different times so there’s already a little connection there.

“He knows my game so well having played against each other for years, but also he knows this club and the system so well. I think that makes the transition and learning process for me even easier.”

“In the brief time we’ve had on court, what’s evident is what a high-level player he is,” Barlow said of Delany. “You can just see the level of skill and the speed in which he picks up things, and even recognises situations… it's obvious that he’s an international-level basketball player.”

Delany played a total of 183 games with the New Zealand Breakers, averaging 9.2 points and 4.3 rebounds a game. His most productive season came in the NBL21 campaign, where he averaged 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in 36 appearances.

Read the full story here >> ‘Desire and expectation to win’: Delany hungry for more success