Dante Exum: stats, last game & news

When Dante Exum scored 16 points against the junior American team at the 2013 Nike Hoop Summit, few could have imagined that this young Australian with American parents would go on to have one of the most turbulent careers of his generation. Born in East Melbourne, Exum initially hesitated between basketball and Australian rules football before making the choice that would change his life.

His academic journey took him from Thomas Carr College in Melbourne to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, where he excelled at Lake Ginninderra Secondary College. He reached a milestone in 2013 by winning the national high school championship, a performance that convinced the point guard to skip the American college system and declare directly for the 2014 NBA Draft.

Selected 5th overall by the Utah Jazz, Exum seemed destined for a bright future. However, injuries quickly clouded his outlook: a torn ACL in 2015, followed by recurring shoulder and kneecap issues. These setbacks marked his stints with the Jazz, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Dallas Mavericks, turning every return to the court into a small victory.

Paradoxically, it was with the Australian national team that Exum found his redemption. His speed, defensive skills, and versatility at both the point guard and shooting guard positions contributed to the Boomers' historic bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. This international achievement served as a reminder of the untapped potential of a player who refuses to give up.

Today respected throughout Australian basketball for his resilience, Exum continues to prove that setbacks do not define a career — but the way you overcome them does.