4
Aug
Player Profile
Aussies in the NBA: Dante Exum
Australian Dante Exum #0 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on against the Memphis Grizzlies during the game of the Play-In Tournament at FedExForum on April 19, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
Highlights
Dante Exum plays for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA
- Fifth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft
- Olympic bronze medallist with the Australian Boomers in Tokyo 2020
- ABA League champion and All-ABA League Team selection with Partizan Belgrade in 2023
- Dante Exum's Career Profile Page
Dante Exum’s journey from Australian basketball prodigy to NBA comeback king exemplifies resilience and adaptability as a professional basketball player.
Exum's unique path has taken him to across the basketball world, showcasing his versatile skill set and importance to the Australian Boomers.
He is the son of former NBL star Cecil Exum, who play eight seasons in the NBL and won a NCAA national championship with the North Carolina Tar Heels alongside NBA Hall of Famers Michael Jordan and James Worthy in 1982.
Key Details
Name: Danté Exum
Age: 28
Team(s): Dallas Mavericks (current), Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, FC Barcelona, Partizan Belgrade
Position: Shooting guard / Point guard
Size: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight: 214 lb (97 kg)
Playing Style
Dante Exum’s game showcases his immense size and athleticism for a guard. Standing at 6’5” with a wingspan of 6’9”, Exum possesses the physical tools to be a disruptive defender against guards.
Offensively, Exum’s game is built around driving through defences and getting to the rim. His quick first step and long strides enable him to get to the cup swiftly where he can finish with either hand or pass out to an open teammate. Over the last couple seasons, Exum’s has developed an outside shooting game, mainly in catch-and-shoot situations.
Dante Exum's Career
Exum’s professional career started in 2014, when he bypassed a year in college to enter the NBA Draft straight out of high school. He was selected 5th overall by the Utah Jazz where he would go on to suit up in all 82 regular season games, showcasing his potential. However, his early career would be cut by significant injuries, including a torn ACL that made him miss the entire 2015-16 season.
Despite showing potential in his early professional seasons, he couldn’t be consistently on the court. The Jazz traded him in December 2019 to the Cleveland Cavaliers where he would have a brief stint before being traded to the Houston Rockets in January 2021.
Exum’s lucky would change at the Tokyo Olympics, helping the Australian Boomers to their first ever Olympic medal. He scored 12 points in 20 minutes of game time in the bronze medal game against Slovenia.
Despite this Exum would be waived by the Rockets before ever suiting up in a regular season game. He would turn his career to Europe, signing with FC Barcelona for the 2021-22 season. Exum went on to win the Spanish Cup in his one and only season with the Catalonian club.
Exum moved to Serbia the following season, signing with Partizan Belgrade where he had an impressive season. He averaged 13.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in the EuroLeague where he helped Partizan to a semi-final appearance. He also helped Partizan to an ABA-League championship, being named to the All-ABA League team.
He returned to the NBA the following year, signing with the Dallas Mavericks. In his first year with the Texas side, he aided them to an NBA Finals appearance where they would lose to the Boston Celtics. He averaged 7.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists across 55 regular season games.
He continued his time with Dallas last season, only managing 20 appearances due to injury.
He re-signed with the Mavericks on July 3rd, 2025, on a one-year deal.
Fast Five Facts
- Exum’s father Cecil won an NBL championship with the North Melbourne Giants
- He bypassed college, entering the 2014 NBA Draft straight out of high school
- Exum was offered a contract by the Perth Wildcats in 2013
- Exum won EuroLeague Magic Moment of the Season, for a poster dunk against Olympiacos
- Exum made a career high seven three-pointers against the Los Angeles Lakers in December 2023
Career Highlights Timeline
- 2013: Participated in Nike Hoops Summit, scoring 16 points for the World Select Team
- 2014: Selected 5th overall by the Utah Jazz in the NBA Draft
- 2015: Named to the Rising Stars Challenge roster in NBA All-Star Weekend
- 2018: Re-signed with the Utah Jazz on a three-year deal
- 2019: Traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2021: Wins bronze medal with the Boomers
- 2021: Signs with FC Barcelona
- 2022: Joins Partizan Belgrade
- 2023: Wins ABA League Championship with Partizan, Named to the All-ABA League Team
- 2023: Plays for Australian Boomers at FIBA World Cup
- 2023: Signs with Dallas Mavericks, marking his return to the NBA
- 2024: Plays for Australian Boomers at Paris Olympics
Danté Exum's journey from Australian prodigy to his NBA resurgence exemplifies resilience and adaptability in professional basketball. His unique path has taken him across continents and leagues, showcasing his versatile skillset and importance to the Australian Boomers.
With his blend of size, speed, and refined skills, Exum is well-positioned to continue to make a significant impact for the Mavericks and potentially play a crucial role in future Australian national team campaigns heading into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
