Nearly a decade after he was selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Dante Exum is starting to find his groove in the best league in the world.
After his first stint in the NBA was derailed by a series of unfortunate injuries, Exum went overseas to polish his game and work toward making a return.
The Aussie star jumped onto Barcelona in Liga ACB during the 2021-22 season when the Spanish club needed depth after losing key guards to injuries during the year. Exum stepped in and did what he does best — defending on the perimeter at a high level while serving as a secondary playmaker and scorer when the opportunity presented itself.
One of the biggest areas of improvement for Exum's skillset was his jumper, and he needed to prove he could knock down an outside shot with some consistency if he hoped to find a role in the NBA.
In 34 games with Barcelona between Liga ACB and EuroLeague, Exum only averaged 7.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists. Most importantly, he knocked down 47.8 percent of his 46 3-point attempts — a sign of growth, albeit with a small sample size.
After showing he was back to playing at a high level with Barcelona, Exum took his talents to the world-renowned Adriatic League, competing for Partizan where he took on more responsibility as a scorer and creator.
In 56 games with Partizan between the ABA and EuroLeague, Exum averaged 12.4 points, 3.2 assists and 2.6 rebounds. He proved his 3-point shooting numbers weren't fool's gold, knocking down 44.1 percent of his 143 3-point attempts on the season, leading Partizan to its first ABA championship in a decade.
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When NBA free agency rolled around, Exum had shown enough to warrant another chance.
The Mavericks had just missed the playoffs and it was clear team owner Mark Cuban was looking to build a particular type of roster around their new star duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Dallas prioritized versatile and athletic 3-and-D wings and high-energy, rim-running bigs to perfectly complement its tandem.
Exum's skillset fit the bill as a defensive-minded slasher and playmaker with an improved 3-point shot, and the Mavericks gave him a low-risk, high-reward two-year, $6.2 million deal (with only one year guaranteed).
Exum was in and out of the rotation early on in the season but as injuries started to pile up, the Aussie guard received an opportunity to make an impact and he's made the most of it.
Dante Exum is making most of Mavericks opportunity next to Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving
The Mavericks are rolling to start the 2023-24 season and while Doncic and Irving deserve plenty of credit for their success, their new additions have proved to be the perfect fit.
Even when injuries hit key players like Irving, Tim Hardaway Jr., Grant Williams, Derrick Jones Jr. and Josh Green, guys like Exum have stepped in and stepped up to keep Dallas afloat.
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After playing inconsistently over the first 19 games of the season, Exum has thrived since being inserted into the starting lineup over the last four games.
In four starts, Exum is averaging 17.5 points, 5.8 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals and only 1.3 turnovers while shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 55.0 percent from 3.
As of Dec. 13, the Aussie star's 13.8 on/off net rating is the best on the team.
He's taken on tough defensive assignments from rising stars like Desmond Bane and Austin Reaves to streaky scorers like Anfernee Simons, creating havoc with ball pressure and his high defensive IQ.
On offense, he is showing that he can perfectly complement Doncic and Irving off the ball while proving he can also serve as a secondary ball-handler to take some pressure off of one of the league's most prolific playmakers.
Exum dished out over six assists in each of his first three starts, making plays as an initiator and connective passer. He had the best 3-point shooting game of his life on primetime against the Lakers, nearly doubling his season total with seven (!) 3-pointers made on nine attempts.
He dropped 17 points in the fourth quarter alone, burying the game-sealing dagger to send Los Angeles home with a loss.
Exum has led with his defense, taking on any tough matchups so Doncic and Irving don't have to. He stays active as an off-ball cutter, a gem of a skill playing alongside a passer like Doncic. He's proved he can create in doses as a playmaker and scorer, and above all, he's knocked down open catch-and-shoot 3s, which was the biggest concern for sticking in a rotation.
Exum stayed ready for his moment and it has paid off, thriving in his role next to Dallas' star guards.
