He had been discreet since the start of the playoffs. Less used than in the regular season, Dante Exum However, he had a big impact in the fourth inning that the Mavs were forced to win.
“ When I come on, I try to bring rhythm, to relieve Luka as much as possible (Doncic) and Ky (Irving). […] But I also let the game come to me. I'm not trying to go out there and score 50 points. It's just about sticking to the game plan and attacking where I can “, he reminds.
This is precisely what he did at the start of the second quarter by signing an aggressive attack from the circle, then converting a 3-point basket after a fixation from the Slovenian. His five points in a row helped widen the gap in favor of the Texans.
Game 4? His best game of the playoffs
The Mavs replacement will finish this game with 10 points (4/7 on shots including 2/4 from distance), i.e. twice as many points scored as in the first three games, a bar reached for the first time in these playoffs.
Considering his regular season, during which he averaged 8 points, the performance seems relative. But on the scale of the last years of his journey strewn with pitfalls, it is another story.
The fifth pick of the 2014 Draft injured his cruciate knee ligament during the summer, with the Australian national team, after a first full season at Jazz. After a blank 2015/16 season, he will have a series of injuries. Between Utah and Cleveland, Dante Exum only played 83 matches over the 2018/19, 2019/2020 and 2020/21 seasons.
Dante Exum has already made a comeback
The Melbourne native will then turn to Europe for two years (FC Barcelona and Partizan Belgrade) before being offered a new opportunity in the Big League. Today in the NBA Finals, he admits to having “ thought a lot » to this atypical journey.
“ If only watching this year, playing in the NBA Finals and going to the Olympics, the two biggest stages in the world. I am forever grateful. It's easy to take it for granted, but I've had injuries, not been able to play and missed events. I make sure I get everything done and I'm grateful to be on the field », he displays.
A journalist then asks him if he ever thinks of a player like Shaun Livingston. He too was drafted very high, 4th pick in 2004, and saw his career ravaged by injuries. Before finding stability and being an important player in the Warriors dynasty. With three titles up for grabs (2015, 2017 and 2018).
To be able to imitate him? “ I hope. He obviously had a great career. And if I can do something like that, that would be great. But it's going to start here, hopefully we can get that next win and keep building on that “, he retorts cautiously.
Title at the end or not, the Australian, who has a second year of contract at 3 million dollars remaining, knows that he has already assured his return to the NBA.
| Dante Exum | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2014-15 | UTH | 82 | 22 | 34.9 | 31.4 | 62.5 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 4.8 |
| 2016-17 | UTH | 66 | 19 | 42.7 | 29.5 | 79.5 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 6.2 |
| 2017-18 | UTH | 14 | 17 | 48.3 | 27.8 | 80.6 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 8.1 |
| 2018-19 | UTH | 42 | 16 | 41.9 | 29.0 | 79.1 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 6.9 |
| 2019-20 * | All Teams | 35 | 14 | 47.1 | 34.9 | 74.4 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 4.5 |
| 2019-20 * | KEY | 24 | 17 | 47.9 | 35.1 | 73.2 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 5.6 |
| 2019-20 * | UTH | 11 | 8 | 43.5 | 33.3 | 100.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 2.2 |
| 2020-21 | KEY | 6 | 19 | 38.5 | 18.2 | 50.0 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 3.8 |
| 2023-24 | DAL | 55 | 20 | 53.3 | 49.1 | 77.9 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 7.8 |
| Total | 300 | 19 | 43.1 | 33.6 | 76.7 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 6.1 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
