It’s Time for a Senior Surge, Dante Exum
The first 3 seasons have been a roller coaster ride for Exum. Now it’s time for him to stabilize and make that leap to the next level.

NBA players rarely develop on a linear arc. Often times player development flat lines due to the varying roles they play, and the difficulty to remain consistent at the highest level of basketball in the world. Dante Exum is no different; his 3 seasons in the NBA haven't entirely gone to plan. After being selected 5th overall in the 2014 draft Exum completed a flawed, yet promising, rookie season. Prior to the 2015–2016 season he was rightly viewed as a building block for the Utah Jazz.
Exum’s development was derailed in August of 2015 when he injured his left ACL while playing with the Australian national team. An injury that severe can sideline a player for over a year. Once Exum’s knee buckled on the hardwood floor, his season was effectively over.
Months of rehab ensued, and eventually Exum made it back on the court for an October 3rd, 2016 preseason matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers. Being hurt in August may have wiped out his season, but it actually gave him more time to recover. This allowed him to get up to speed quicker upon his return.
Despite having well over a year to recover, Exum’s encore in the NBA yielded mixed results. Due to the addition of George Hill, Exum ended up playing more off the ball. It’s less than ideal to play a young player who’s coming off an injury out of position; however, Exum ended up holding his own on the defensive end. Using his 6'6" frame and 6'9 and 1/2" wingspan, he was able to adequately defend larger players.
His growth on the offensive end is a much different tale. Despite taking a leap forward in FG%, 2P%, eFG%, FT%, and TS%, he took a nosedive at the most efficient areas on the floor.

Surprisingly, the improvement on the offensive end occurred with a massive drop in his finishing at the rim, and with his 3-point shooting taking a slight dip.

It’s important to note the efficiency cap Exum is putting on himself if he is unable to improve his effectiveness at those areas on the floor. Another year playing on the knee may bring him closer to the 73.1% number he posted his rookie season, but it’s unlikely he’ll finish with the same consistency. For comparison, LeBron James is shooting 73.0% within 3 feet of the basket over the course of his career.
Improving the jump shot is a different story. Exum has developed into the habit of bringing the ball down before beginning his shot. The prolonged motion is difficult to replicate, and gives the defense more time to closeout.
Something to watch moving forward is his development as a playmaker. With Dennis Lindsey handing Ricky Rubio the keys to the whip, Exum will likely play a role similar to the one he was playing last season. Proving capable of more setup duties would add another layer to the Jazz’s already cohesive offense.
Few players have the spring and lank that he posses. Improving the handle would go a long way in creating better looks for both himself and his teammates. In the clip above, Exum uses his length to wrap the pass around Gorgui Gieng, and hit Rudy Gobert for the easy 2. Tightening the handle would allow Exum to get into the heart of the defense more often, leading to more opportunities like the play above.
Utah lost two of their three best players this past off-season, and will return to camp with a bit of a makeover. Given the turmoil, there will be ample opportunity to carve out a role in the rotation. The ball will be in Exum’s court to adapt to the new roster, and grow into a player worth investing in long-term. He will be entering the final year of his rookie deal, and he’s reached the point of his career where it’s time he separates himself from other rotation guards. Being a bench ball handler may be Dante Exum’s density, but taking a leap forward could land him a lucrative contract next summer.
Statistics courtesy of Basketball Reference and NBA.com
Measurements courtesy of DraftExpress
Video courtesy of NBA.com
