He might be starring in the NBA Finals but it seems Australian Matthew Dellavedova can’t take a trick with the US media.

Dellavedova, first branded ‘dirty’ for his confrontation with Atlanta’s Al Horford in the Eastern Conference play-offs, was targeted by ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith after Cleveland’s 108-100 overtime loss to Golden State in Game 1 of the Finals.

• Dellavedova key to LeBron’s ‘Grit Squad’
• Dellavedova won’t change for NBA finals
• It’s Australia’s Day in the NBA Finals series

Among other barbs, Smith said: “It doesn’t take much to know when dudes can’t handle the pressure.”

Then, before Dellavedova’s star turn in Game 2, came this from ESPN journalist Colin Cowherd on Twitter:

Matt Dellavedova, this may seem a tad harsh, could be the worst player ever in a Finals to get major minutes.

— Colin Cowherd (@ESPN_Colin) June 8, 2015

It’s fair to say Dellavedova had the last laugh, not only keeping Golden State star Stephen Curry – voted the NBA’s most valuable player for the season – quiet, but also hitting two crucial free-throws.

When Matthew Dellavedova guarded Steph Curry, the MVP didn’t make a single basket. #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/ArMCD5z8lI

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 8, 2015

Cleveland, who won Game 2 95-93 after another bout of overtime, trailed by one with 10.1 seconds left, before Dellavedova sunk two shots from the charity stripe.

And the Cavaliers held on to level the best-of-seven series at 1-1, leading star LeBron James to say: “It [Curry’s bad game] had everything to do with ‘Delly’.

“He kept a body on Steph. He made Steph work. He was spectacular, man, defensively. We needed everything from him.”

That made Cowherd look quite the fool and although he later praised Dellavedova, plenty of basketball fans were quick to let him know about the Aussie’s heroics.

@ESPN_Colin, ur not welcome in Australia ever

— Matthew Saliba (@MattSaliba13) June 8, 2015

@ESPN_Colin your Delly tweet just got quoted on the biggest sports station on national radio here in aus. You are public enemy #1 downunder

— Danny J (@darneyj47) June 8, 2015

@ESPN_Colin appearances are deceptive. He is a winner, makes big plays when it counts. You are a loser, make big statements to feel relevant

— Warren Randall (@wazrandall) June 8, 2015

@SN_Ohio @ESPN_Colin And, you might well be the worst commentator to ever have a radio show. Curry – 0 points in time Delly was on him.

— Jay Miller (@FunNGamzz) June 8, 2015