Can Mavs Revive Dante Exum's NBA Potential?
Every NBA Draft has its booms and busts, but sometimes, those busts can come back and make a better name for themselves. That's the hope the Dallas Mavericks have for former top-5 pick in the 2014 draft, Dante Exum, who was signed to a one-year veteran's minimum contract this summer to resume his NBA career after a two-year hiatus.
During his NBA career, where he spent five seasons with the Utah Jazz and two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Exum averaged 5.7 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 40.7 percent from the field and 30.5 percent from deep in 245 games. Although Exum is a good perimeter defender, it was his lack of shooting and unfortunate injuries that kept him from sticking in the league. However, given what Exum has done overseas over the last two years, perhaps he's fixed his shooting efficiency.
During the 2021-22 season, Exum was with Barcelona, and he started showing off his newfound shooting stroke. In 18 EuroLeague games, he shot 50 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from deep in 17.8 minutes per game. In 16 Liga ABA games, he shot 48.9 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from deep in 21.1 minutes per game.
That improvement apparently wasn't a fluke, as Exum continued to raise his overall efficiency in the 2022-23 season with Partizan. In 22.9 minutes per game, he shot 54.4 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from deep in 33 EuroLeague games last season. In 20.7 minutes per game, Exum shot 56.3 percent overall and 46.6 percent from deep in 23 ABA games.
Former longtime Jazz executive Dennis Lindsey, who is now an advisor for the Mavs' front office, saw this kind of potential from Exum when selecting him in the 2014 draft. After seeing growth in Europe, Exum will now have a chance to prove he belongs in the NBA while playing alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving with a lot less pressure than he initially had on his shoulders when he entered the league.
The 28-year-old guard doesn't have to score a lot to be considered a 'star in his role' in Dallas, but if he can transfer some of the same efficiency he discovered overseas, as well as his already-proven prowess on the defensive end of the court, Exum could be a very nice complementary piece for the Mavs this season, effectively taking his name out of that 'bust' category.
Mavs fans can get an early look at Exum, as he'll be suiting up for the Australian national team alongside Dallas teammate Josh Green at the FIBA World Cup, which begins on Aug. 25.
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