Behind the All-Star duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving , Dante Exum offered veteran experience and playmaking from the Dallas Mavericks’ bench.
The thing is, he just suffered a finger injury as part of Australia’s team for the Olympics, placing him in danger of missing time for the Mavs.
Exum is an Australian professional basketball player currently with the Mavs. He was selected fifth overall by the Utah Jazz in the 2014 NBA Draft , bypassing college. The guard also played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, FC Barcelona, and Partizan Belgrade before joining the Mavericks in 2023.
Exum’s rookie season with the Jazz in 2014-15 was promising, as he played in all 82 games and showcased his playmaking abilities. However, a torn ACL in 2015 sidelined him for the entire 2015-16 season. He has dealt with various injuries throughout his career, which has impacted his development and playing time.
Despite the challenges, Exum has found success in various leagues. He won the Spanish Cup with FC Barcelona in 2022 and the ABA League championship with Partizan Belgrade in 2023. Exum has also been a key contributor for the Australian national team, winning a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
At 29 years old, Exum joined the Mavericks in 2023 looking to make a lasting impact in the NBA. His combination of size, athleticism, and playmaking skills make him an intriguing addition to the Luka Doncic-led roster.
Right before the Olympics have started, Exum has found himself in a quandary after injuring his finger recently. In an article written by Olgun Uluc for ESPN, the Mavericks guard may have to take some time to recover.
“Danté Exum is likely to miss some time due to a finger injury but will remain with the Australian Boomers for the 2024 Paris Olympics, sources told ESPN.
Exum suffered a dislocated finger in the second quarter of Monday morning’s (AEST) exhibition game between Australia and France, after the guard drove into the lane. He immediately checked himself out of the contest and ran straight to the locker room.
The 29-year-old was taken to hospital later that evening to undergo scans. Exum had suffered a compound dislocation of his right index finger but, while there was serious concern in the immediate aftermath of the incident, the scans revealed no fractures, with Exum set to remain with the Boomers ahead of their Olympic opener against Spain on July 27,” Uluc wrote.
Last season, Exum proved to be a capable reserve guard behind Doncic and Irving in Dallas. In the 55 games he played during that period, the Australian star averaged 7.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 19.8 minutes per contest.
Although Exum’s absence won’t mean that much early next season, having him as a guarantee in the Mavs’ guard rotation may be important down the line. Hopefully, he gets to recover sooner than expected.
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