Kyrie Irving Says ‘We’re in the Process’ regarding switch to Boomers
February 17, 2025
Dante Exum
- Nationality: USA/AUS
- Date of Birth: 13/07/95
- Place of Birth: Melbourne (VIC)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 196
- Weight (KG): 97
- Junior Assoc: VIC - Keilor
- College: None
- AGE AT DEBUT: 0
- LAST NBL GAME: 30/12/99
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 0
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Dante Exum is legitimately a “son of a gun” with his father Cecil Exum having played college basketball at the University of North Carolina, where he was part of the team that won the 1982 NCAA championship and included US basketballer Michael Jordan. Cecil was also drafted by the Denver Nuggets (1984) and played 197 games in the NBL.
He began playing basketball with his family at age five at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in Melbourne and grew up watching his father play for the North Melbourne Giants (1989, 1991), Melbourne Tigers (1990) and Geelong Supercats (1992-96). He spent most of his young life in the Melbourne’s western suburbs where he played junior basketball for Keilor and Werribee. Exum was identified by basketball scouts very early and as soon as he became a teenager he moved to Canberra to attended Lake Ginninderra Secondary College in Canberra in conjunction with the Australian Institute of Sport. He spent three years year there and played for the program’s SEABL team between 2011-2013.
FAMILY: Dante Exum is the son of Cecil Exum who played 197 games in the NBL.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- AIS 2011-13
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Dante became the youngest player ever to be involved in a Australian Boomers squad at only 15 years of age. Exum was given the chance to play in a exhibition game for the Boomers under the eye of then head coach Brett Brown who had also coached his father Cecil.
As the Boomers prepared for the 2014 FIBA World Cup Exum made his national team at 18 when he debuted against New Zealand in the 2013 Oceania Qualifiers. Exum would be selected to the Boomers squad that competed at the 2014 FIBA World Cup, which saw NBA stars Patty Mills and Andrew Bogut both unavailable due to injuries. Australia would lose their their opening game against Slovenia (80-90). The went on to defeat South Korea (55-89), Lithuania (82-75) and Mexico (62-70) before controversially losing to Angola. After Australia had led the game by ten at the half, they would lose the game (83-91) and fall to third place in their pool, and allowing them to avoid USA until the semi finals. This set them up to face Turkey in the crossover games, which they lost, 64-65, finishing in twelfth place (3-3). a investigation into Australias alleged tanking was undertaken, with Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis rejecting the accusation, saying he rested his players for the next stage due to the heavy tournament schedule. On 26 November 2014, Australia was cleared of tanking by FIBA. As a member of the Boomers 2014 FIBA World Cup squad, Exum averaged 3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2 assists in six games.
After not playing for the Boomers for seven years, Exum would return to play for the green and gold at the 2020 Olympics (Japan). There, the team started their campaign by going undefeated, securing wins over defeating Nigeria (84–67), Italy (86-83) and Germany (89–76). Behind the offensive firepower of Patty Mills (19 points), Australia then defeated Argentina (97–59) to advance to the semi finals. There, they lost to a star studded US team (97–78) which featured Kevin Durant (23 points), Devin Booker (20 points) and Jayson Tatum (11 points). Mills (20 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists) was again the top scorer for Australia. This set up a game against Slovenia for the bronze medal, where Luka Doncic (22 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Mills (42 points, 3 rebounds, and 9 assists) led their respective countries in scoring, but Australia would make history, winning the game (107-93) and making history by securing the Boomers first Olympic medal. Joe Ingles (16 points and 9 rebounds), Jock Landale (14 points and 5 rebounds) and Matisse Thybulle (11 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals) were also key contributors in the medal winning game. Exum was instrumental off the bench, scoring 12 points in 20 minutes.
In 2023, Exum earned selection to Australias FIBA World Cup squad. The team went on to finish in tenth place, with a record of 3-2.
The following year, Exum was selected as a part of the 22-player Boomers squad that prepared for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
FIBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 28 | 5 | 94 | 55 | 13 | 15 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 41 | 41.5% | 8 | 17 | 47.1% | 13 | 14 | 92.9% |
| 2020 | 25 | 6 | 124 | 54 | 22 | 17 | 3 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 30 | 56.7% | 6 | 10 | 60.0% | 14 | 18 | 77.8% |
| 2014 | 19 | 6 | 75 | 16 | 9 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 15 | 33.3% | 1 | 5 | 20.0% | 5 | 5 | 100.0% | Total | 20 | 361 | 158 | 51 | 56 | 12 | 39 | 4 | 3 | 28 | 34 | 51 | 111 | 46% | 17 | 39 | 44% | 39 | 47 | 83% |
FIBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 28 | 5 | 18.8 | 11.0 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 8.2 | 41.5% | 1.6 | 3.4 | 47.1% | 2.6 | 2.8 | 92.9% |
| 2020 | 25 | 6 | 20.7 | 9.0 | 3.7 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 5.0 | 56.7% | 1.0 | 1.7 | 60.0% | 2.3 | 3.0 | 77.8% |
| 2014 | 19 | 6 | 12.5 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 33.3% | 0.2 | 0.8 | 20.0% | 0.8 | 0.8 | 100.0% | Total | 20 | 18.1 | 7.9 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 5.6 | 46% | 0.9 | 2.0 | 44% | 2.0 | 2.4 | 83% |
NBA EXPERIENCE
Dante Exum was drafted by the Utah Jazz with pick #5 in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Exums play with the AIS and junior national teams led to being selected to participate in the 2013 Nike Hoop Summit. This is where he really gained the attention of NBA and college scouts when he recorded 16 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Exum had considered playing in college but ultimately decided he would forego his college eligibility in January 2014 when he declared for the 2014 NBA draft. Despite being hardly scouted by NBA coaches, Exums raw talent and potential was enough for the Utah Jazz to make him a top 5 pick despite having seen little more of his game than an international junior tournament and a mix tape.
Upon making his debut for the Utah Jazz in their first game of the season Dante became the youngest Australian to ever play in the NBA (18 years old).
As rookies with the Utah Jazz Joe Ingles and Dante Exum were forced to be flight attendants during their rookie season after failing to wear their pink backpacks, which featured Disney’s Frozen characters on them to a team training session.
Despite limited minutes Exum appeared in all 82 games (41 starts) as a rookie and averaged 4.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 22.2 minutes. His most notable moment perhaps was being selected for the Rookie team in the 2015 Rising Stars Challenge at the All-Star Weekend.
In August 2015, Exum sustained a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee while playing for Australia in Slovenia. He underwent surgery and subsequently missed the entire 2015–16 NBA season.
Exum returned to the team in 2016-17, he averaged 6.2 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game including a career-high scoring night when he delivered 22 points in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Exum played 313 games in the NBA. He averaged 7.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game over his NBA career.
NBA TRANSACTIONS:
- June 26, 2014: Drafted by the Utah Jazz in the 1st round (5th pick) of the 2014 NBA Draft.
-
July 11, 2014: Signed a multi-year contract with the Utah Jazz
-
July 6, 2018: Signed as a free agent with the Utah Jazz.
-
December 23, 2019: Traded by the Utah Jazz with a 2022 2nd round draft pick and a 2023 2nd round draft pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Jordan Clarkson.
- (2022 second-round pick is owned by SAS) (2023 second-round pick is owned by GSW)
-
January 13, 2021: As part of a 4-team trade, traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 2022 1st round draft pick to the Houston Rockets; the Brooklyn Nets traded Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince to the Cleveland Cavaliers; the Brooklyn Nets traded Rodions Kurucs, a 2021 1st round draft pick (Cade Cunningham was later selected), a 2022 1st round draft pick, a 2023 1st round draft pick, a 2024 1st round draft pick, a 2025 1st round draft pick, a 2026 1st round draft pick and a 2027 1st round draft pick to the Houston Rockets; the Brooklyn Nets traded Caris Levert to the Indiana Pacers; the Cleveland Cavaliers traded a 2024 2nd round draft pick to the Brooklyn Nets; the Houston Rockets traded James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets; the Houston Rockets traded a 2023 2nd round draft pick to the Indiana Pacers; and the Indiana Pacers traded Victor Oladipo to the Houston Rockets.
- 2024 2nd-rd pick is CLE own Houston has the option to swap 1st round draft picks with Brooklyn in 2021.
- Pick not swapped.
- Houston has the option to swap 1st round draft picks with Brooklyn in 2023 Houston has the option to swap 1st round draft picks with Brooklyn in 2025 Houston has the option to swap 1st round draft picks with Brooklyn in 2027 2022 1st-rd draft pick is MIL own 2023 2nd-rd pick is HOU own
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 19 | Utah | PG | 82 | 41 | 1817 | 393 | 131 | 198 | 27 | 104 | 41 | 14 | 118 | 147 | 145 | 416 | 35% | 83 | 264 | 31% | 20 | 32 | 63% | 46% | 45% |
| 2016-17 | 21 | Utah | PG | 66 | 26 | 1228 | 412 | 132 | 111 | 30 | 102 | 21 | 12 | 80 | 146 | 155 | 363 | 43% | 44 | 149 | 30% | 58 | 73 | 79% | 52% | 49% |
| 2017-18 | 30 | Utah | SF | 82 | 81 | 2578 | 940 | 344 | 392 | 24 | 320 | 90 | 20 | 159 | 178 | 335 | 718 | 47% | 204 | 464 | 44% | 66 | 83 | 80% | 62% | 61% |
| 2018-19 | 23 | Utah | PG | 42 | 1 | 664 | 288 | 68 | 110 | 16 | 52 | 14 | 5 | 52 | 69 | 101 | 241 | 42% | 18 | 62 | 29% | 68 | 86 | 79% | 52% | 46% |
| 2019-20 | 24 | Utah | SG | 11 | 0 | 83 | 24 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 23 | 43% | 2 | 6 | 33% | 2 | 2 | 100% | 50% | 48% |
| 2019-20 | 24 | Cleveland | SG | 24 | 1 | 402 | 135 | 55 | 33 | 9 | 46 | 12 | 6 | 21 | 30 | 46 | 96 | 48% | 13 | 37 | 35% | 30 | 41 | 73% | 59% | 55% |
| 2020-21 | 25 | Cleveland | SG | 6 | 3 | 116 | 23 | 17 | 13 | 2 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 26 | 38% | 2 | 11 | 18% | 1 | 2 | 50% | 43% | 42% | Total | 313 | 153 | 6888 | 2215 | 759 | 864 | 111 | 648 | 183 | 61 | 447 | 587 | 802 | 1883 | 43% | 366 | 993 | 37% | 245 | 319 | 77% |
NBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 19 | Utah | PG | 82 | 41 | 22.2 | 4.8 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 5.1 | 35% | 1.0 | 3.2 | 31% | 0.2 | 0.4 | 63% | 46% | 45% |
| 2016-17 | 21 | Utah | PG | 66 | 26 | 18.6 | 6.2 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 5.5 | 43% | 0.7 | 2.3 | 30% | 0.9 | 1.1 | 79% | 52% | 49% |
| 2017-18 | 30 | Utah | SF | 82 | 81 | 31.4 | 11.5 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 0.3 | 3.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 4.1 | 8.8 | 47% | 2.5 | 5.7 | 44% | 0.8 | 1.0 | 80% | 62% | 61% |
| 2018-19 | 23 | Utah | PG | 42 | 1 | 15.8 | 6.9 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 5.7 | 42% | 0.4 | 1.5 | 29% | 1.6 | 2.0 | 79% | 52% | 46% |
| 2019-20 | 24 | Utah | SG | 11 | 0 | 7.5 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 43% | 0.2 | 0.5 | 33% | 0.2 | 0.2 | 100% | 50% | 48% |
| 2019-20 | 24 | Cleveland | SG | 24 | 1 | 16.8 | 5.6 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 4.0 | 48% | 0.5 | 1.5 | 35% | 1.3 | 1.7 | 73% | 59% | 55% |
| 2020-21 | 25 | Cleveland | SG | 6 | 3 | 19.3 | 3.8 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 4.3 | 38% | 0.3 | 1.8 | 18% | 0.2 | 0.3 | 50% | 43% | 42% | Total | 313 | 153 | 22.0 | 7.1 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 6.0 | 43% | 1.2 | 3.2 | 37% | 0.8 | 1.0 | 77% |
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