Dante Exum is third Australian waived this season

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Australian Boomers wing Dante Exum is the third Australian waived by an NBA team in 2025-26.

The injured 30-year-old Melbourne-born star was waived today by the Washington Wizards after he was traded from the Dallas Mavericks in a deal that sent he and Anthony Davis to the Eastern Conference.

It comes as Western Australian Luke Travers was waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers and Duop Reath by the Atlanta Hawks after he was traded by the Portland Trail Blazers before the trade deadline.

Exum was ruled out for the 2025-26 season on October 13, 2025 by complications post his right knee surgery in the off-season. He will be a free agent in 2026-27.

"Mavericks guard Dante Exum has continued to deal with complications from a right knee procedure in the off-season, and it has been determined that a follow-up surgery will be necessary," the Mavericks said at the time.

"Exum will miss the remainder of the season and a further timeline will be provided when known."

He battled wrist and hand injuries in 2024-25, limiting him to just 20 appearances for the Mavericks.

The fifth pick in the 2014 NBA Draft got his career back on track with FC Barcelona and Partizan Belgrade as well as helping the Boomers to a historic Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo in 2021 before earning a spot with the Mavericks.

Exum had carved out a significant role under coach Jason Kidd, and was part of a Dallas team that made it all the way to the 2024 NBA Finals. The former Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder then had an injury-riddled 2024-25 season before dealing with this right knee issue during the preseason.