The race of Dante Exum It is worthy of a movie. From being one of the greatest talents in the 2014 Draft to going through the Euroleague with countless physical problems involved, the Australian seems hHe has now found his place in the NBA as Luka Doncic’s ‘squire’ in the Mavericks.
At 28 years old, the shooting guard returned to the best league in the world after a two-year period in the old continent where he was able to feel like a basketball player again, a player riddled by injuries on his knee that never gave up in his efforts to return to the elite. It won’t be because of talent, and Redemption is already a reality.
NBA – Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks / NBA
Luka’s ‘X’ factor
Los Dallas Mavericks They have in Doncic one of the most dominant players on the planet and a clear MVP candidate this season, but the franchise has had difficulty surrounding him with other stars since drafting him back in 2018. With Kyrie Irving – the team’s second sword – out due to heel discomfort, Exum has occupied the role of ‘X factor’ in the ‘Mavs’, now being an essential in the starting quintet.
He started playing just over 15 minutes and now he is going to more than 30, a confidence that the Australian is knowing how to materialize in the form of numbers. In the last 7 games played (he missed the match against Houston due to discomfort), Exum averages 18 points and 3.9 assists with excellent shooting success: 60% from long distance and 67% in field throws.
His last performance against the Spurs (20p -4a -7r) made evident the need to have Dante on the court for Jason Kidd’s teama chameleon profile who can create his own baskets from a secondary role but he also doesn’t mind becoming a ‘catch and shoot’ player when the team needs it. His commitment to defense is also remarkable, since he is usual to see him guard the best opposing player, without also having a prodigious height (1’96cm).
From ‘reborn’ in Barcelona to shine in Dallas
The last two years have been a rollercoaster for the Melbourne-born player. He signed a three-month contract with Barça in December 2021, an agreement that would end up extending until the end of the season and that allowed us to see the first signs of its ‘rebirth’. A few weeks ago he defined his journey in Catalonia as “something very good for me.” After regaining confidence in himself, Belgrade Partizan He caught it with a good eye, and it is that Exum lived his best year as a professional in Serbia, playing everything in the Euroleague and leaving the nightmares of his knee behind. In 22/23, he averaged 13.3 points and 2.8 basket attempts with 42% in triples in the maximum competition.
Dante Exum has earned the trust of the team and the public enjoys his actions / AFP
Now, back to the American dream, the praise has not been long in coming. His coach, Kidd, stated that Most likely he will continue playing as a starterr, beyond the return of injuries to the rotation, claiming that his abilities as a ‘playmaker‘They make life easier for Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irvingthe two offensive mainstays of the Texans.
“I don’t care if it’s in the starting five or coming off the bench. I always go with the same mentality. “I want to play everything but the most important thing is to win and play as hard as possible,” said Exum in a post-match press conference.
2023-12-24 10:59:57
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