Mavericks player Exum: Resurgence Halted by Injury Woes

• He is an Australian professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks
• He missed a game versus the Pacers due to a knee injury
• He might be sidelined for sometime 

Dante Exum is an Australian professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball team and is currently in the recovery process of a knee injury.

He was born in Melbourne, Australia to American parents and began playing at the Keilor Basketball Association and later attended Lake Ginninderra Secondary College in Canberra, where he trained at the Australian Institute of Sport.

The player also played Australian rules football during his youth, opting to forgo college basketball and declared for the 2014 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz and his early years were marred by injuries.

After four seasons with the Jazz, Exum struggled to find consistent playing time in the NBA and spent several years playing for teams in China and Australia before coming back to the NBA. In 2022, he signed with the Dallas Mavericks where he impressed his coaches and fans with his defensive intensity.

Despite his past challenges with injuries, playing time and adapting to a new role, he has found a home with the Mavericks and could potentially earn a larger role or sign a new contract with the team. He is likely to be in the next games versus the Cavaliers after being sidelined due to an injury.

Dante Exum’s personal life

Dante Exum is an Australian professional basketball player who plays for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. He was born on July 13 1995 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia to his father Cecil and mother Desiree.

Dante Exum. Photo/Houston Chronicle

His father played college basketball at the University of North Carolina, winning an NCAA championship alongside Michael Jordan and James Worthy. He was drafted by the Denver Nuggets but primarily played professionally in Australia for the National Basketball League. Cecil’s basketball background certainly influenced his son’s passion for the game, providing him with valuable guidance during his early development.

His mother Desiree attended the University of North Carolina alongside her husband and he has an elder brother Jamal, and a twin sister Tierra.  About his relationship, it’s not confirmed though there has been a rumor that he has a daughter with his girlfriend Jessica Corey.

Apart from his passion for basketball, he is also a fan of the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League.

Dante Exum Career

 began playing at the Keilor Basketball Association and later attended Lake Ginninderra Secondary College in Canberra, where he trained at the Australian Institute of Sport.

The player also played Australian rules football during his youth, opting to forgo college basketball and declared for the 2014 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz and his early years were marred by injuries.

After four seasons with the Jazz, Exum struggled to find consistent playing time in the NBA and spent several years playing for teams in China and Australia before coming back to the NBA. In 2022, he signed with the Dallas Mavericks where he impressed his coaches and fans with his defensive intensity.

Exum’s success and challenges

In his career, he battled several significant injuries and in his rookie season, he appeared in 82 games for the Jazz. After leaving the Jaz, he gained overseas experience by playing professionally in China and Australia, demonstrating his dedication to the sport.

Dante Exum. Photo/Mavs Moneyball

He has been a key contributor to the Australian national team, playing in the Tokyo Olympics and contributing to their bronze medal win. The player signed with the Dallas Mavericks in 2022 and has shown impressive improvement, particularly in shooting and defence.

While he has not yet won any major individual or team awards in the NBA, his recent performance indicates a potential career resurgence.

Exum injury setbacks

The player is currently sidelined due to a right knee injury, a new development following his initial progress from a plantar fascia sprain that kept him off the court since January 2024. This made him miss several games but he has begun non-contact practices.