Dante Exum, once considered one of the best under-20 players in the world, was forced to leave the NBA after just six years due to injuries and move overseas to develop. However, he performed well in Europe, giving him a chance to return to the NBA. Now that he has become a member of the Mavericks, does he even have a chance to become the best summer surprise for the Mavericks?
When it comes to the most discussed player of the Mavericks recently, that person is none other than Dante Exum.
Exum, who returned to the NBA this season, was originally just a substitute for Kyrie Irving. Unexpectedly, he performed well when Irving retired due to injury. Not only did he start averaging 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, the Mavericks also started in Exum. In these five games, they achieved four wins and one loss.
What’s even more surprising is that in the game against the Lakers in mid-December, it was not the star Luka Dončić who jumped out to block the Lakers’ counterattack at the last moment, but Exum.
“Tonight, the Lakers left me wide open.”
“Then I have no choice but to take action.”
“I just tried my best to maintain the confidence to take action, but fortunately the result was not bad.”
“So if they still use this defensive strategy in the future, then I will take action.”
In this game, the Lakers’ strategy is to double-team Dončić and leave Exum, whose career three-point shooting percentage is just over 30%, open on the outside.
Judging from the statistics alone, there is nothing wrong with this defensive strategy, but it also allowed Exum to seize the opportunity and score a career-high seven three-pointers in a single game, and five of them were concentrated in the tumultuous fourth quarter. He scored 17 points in the quarter and scored 26 points in the game to help the Mavericks seal the victory.
Perhaps, at this time, everyone just recalled the expectations that originally belonged to Exum…
The best in the world, under 20
“Excellent physical condition, he is outstanding among defenders.”
“Has an explosive first step and good coordination.”
“Not afraid of collisions and being able to finish with both hands makes him a good entry point.”
“The intensity of competition is his biggest concern.”
“Most of his best games so far have come from confrontations with players of his own age.”
“Whether performance can be maintained at higher levels remains to be seen.”
“In addition, outside shooting is not stable.”
Going back to the 2014 NBA draft, Exum could be said to be a future gem. Although the next number one pick, Ben Simmons, also an Australian player, stole a lot of attention, but the U-17 World Cup and the U-19 World Cup were the best. The honor of the lineup still does not damage Exum, who is considered by many football analysts to be one of the best players under the age of 20 in the world.
With a height of 6 feet 5 inches, a wingspan of 6 feet 9 inches, and a very fast first step, Exum, who was only 19 years old at the time, really stood out in static conditions, with his physical advantages and technical skills. The plasticity makes people imagine that he can play No. 1, 2 or 3.
And unlike many young and successful players who always have a childish frivolity in their dealings, Exum’s personality has been evaluated by many football critics as being humble and eager to learn, and they have given him high praise for his professional ethics. It was these qualities that led ball commentators to give him the template of the legendary star Penny Hardaway, and also made the Jazz decide to select him with the fifth overall pick.
However, Exum is not without fault. Although youth gives him a developmental advantage, it is also a double-edged sword, because it means that he is not mature enough in terms of skills and body. In addition, Exum did not choose to attend college, so he has less A buffer period that can bridge professional intensity.
In fact, this could also be seen in the World Cup before the selection that year. Although Exum’s performance was remarkable in competitions of his age, when he represented Australia in international competitions, facing the physical strength of an adult, Exum only scored 2.7 points in six games and shot only 40% from the field. of football game content.
In addition, although it was not the big three-point era at that time, Exum’s unstable outside shooting also limited his offensive methods, leaving him without other weapons that could help the team score when he was frustrated by physical confrontation. This also resulted in that although he played in 82 games during his rookie year, he averaged only 4.8 points per game.
However, judging from the schedule of coach Quin Snyder at the time, the Jazz had high hopes for the rookie. Not only did they let him start 41 games, they also let him serve as a point guard to develop his passing and organizational abilities.
Just when everyone hoped that he could become the next high-ball player, the cycle of injuries completely destroyed this fantasy…
Injury cycle, fade away from the stage
“I think injuries are a big factor.”
“Every time I was doing well and settling into my role, I would get injured and not be able to play.”
“When I come back from injury and try to regain my position, I get injured again.”
“One of my main concerns is that the team is worried about whether I can stay healthy.”
This is Exum’s summary of why he struggled so much in the NBA years later.
After a lackluster rookie year, Exum tore the cruciate ligament in his left knee while playing for Australia in the off-season and had to miss the following year.
However, when he returned after a season off, the Jazz had built a playoff-ready roster around Gordon Hayward and Rudy Gobert. The team’s core goal has also changed from cultivating rookies to winning, which puts Exum, who has not yet mastered his skills and still needs time to accumulate experience, in an even more awkward position.
2023-12-16 15:54:22
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