Dallas Mavericks Guard Dante Exum Injures Finger During Olympic Preparation
Dante Exum, a key reserve player for the Dallas Mavericks, recently suffered a finger injury while preparing for the Olympics with the Australian national team. This injury may result in Exum missing some time for the Mavericks.
Exum, an Australian professional basketball player, joined the Mavericks in 2023. He was the fifth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz, opting to skip college. Throughout his career, he has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, FC Barcelona, and Partizan Belgrade.
During his rookie season with the Jazz in 2014-15, Exum played all 82 games and demonstrated strong playmaking skills. However, a torn ACL in 2015 caused him to miss the entire 2015-16 season. Over the years, various injuries have affected his career progression and playing time.
Despite these setbacks, Exum has achieved success in different leagues. He won the Spanish Cup with FC Barcelona in 2022 and the ABA League championship with Partizan Belgrade in 2023. He also played a significant role in the Australian national team’s bronze medal win at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Now 29, Exum joined the Mavericks aiming to make a significant impact in the NBA. His size, athleticism, and playmaking abilities make him a valuable addition to the Luka Doncic-led team.
Recently, Exum dislocated his finger during an exhibition game between Australia and France. According to Olgun Uluc of ESPN, although there were initial concerns about the severity of the injury, scans revealed no fractures. Exum is expected to stay with the Australian team for the 2024 Paris Olympics and hopes to recover in time for their opener against Spain on July 27.
Last season, Exum proved to be a reliable backup guard for Doncic and Kyrie Irving, averaging 7.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 19.8 minutes per game over 55 games. While his absence early in the next season might not be critical, having him available later on could be crucial for the Mavericks. Hopefully, Exum’s recovery will be swift.
