7
Sep
Aussies in the NBA
Dallas keeps faith: Dante Exum signs USD $3M deal
Australian Dante Exum #0 of the Dallas Mavericks brings the ball up the court during the game against the Sacramento Kings during the 2025 SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 17, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Photo: Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images
Highlights
Dante Exum signs $3M Mavericks deal, overcoming injuries with career-best stats in Dallas.
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Australian wing Dante Exum finalised his one-year deal USD $3M with the Dallas Mavericks last week.
The 30-year-old Australian Boomer agreed to re-sign with the Mavericks in July but the deal has just been formalised.
Dallas requested waivers on forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper to make room for Exum, whose role expanded considerably after the Mavs stunningly traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis in February 2025 and potential Boomers teammate Kyrie Irving blew out his knee.
But he broke his hand in April 2025, ending his season after just 20 games. Exum had already missed most of the 2024-25 season with a wrist injury.
Dante Exum's NBA Career Overview
Regular Season Averages:
- Career (NBA, through 2024–25 season):
- Games Played: 320
- Points per Game: 6.2
- Rebounds per Game: 1.9
- Assists per Game: 2.3
- Minutes per Game: ~18.8
Year by Year Breakdown
- 2014–15 (Utah): 82 GP, 4.8 PPG
- 2016–17 (Utah): 66 GP, 6.2 PPG
- 2017–18 (Utah): 14 GP, 8.1 PPG
- 2018–19 (Utah): 42 GP, 6.9 PPG
- 2019–20 (Utah/Cleveland): 35 GP, 4.5 PPG
- 2020–21 (Cleveland): 6 GP, 3.8 PPG
- 2023–24 (Dallas): 55 GP, 7.8 PPG
- 2024–25 (Dallas): 20 GP, 8.7 PPG
Injury & Availability History
Exum's NBA career has been significantly impacted by injuries, resulting in multiple lengthy absences:
- 2015–16 Season:
- Missed the entire season due to an ACL tear in his left knee suffered while playing for Australia in summer 2015.
- 2017–18 Season:
- Suffered a shoulder dislocation during preseason; missed a substantial portion of the season before returning for 14 games.
- 2018–19 Season (Utah):
- After returning mid-season, he endured:
- Ankle sprain and contusion
- Partial patellar tendon tear in his right knee, ending his season.
- After returning mid-season, he endured:
- 2023–24 Season (Dallas):
- Dealt with foot and knee injuries during the campaign.
- Preseason 2024–25:
- Suffered a serious right wrist injury that could require surgery.
- 2024–25 Season:
- Broke his hand in April 2025, prematurely ending his season after just 20 games.
Exum, born in Melbourne, has earned more than USD $50M during his disjointed and injury-riddled nine-year NBA career.
The Mavericks said in a statement: "In 75 games (30 starts) in two seasons in Dallas, Exum delivered career highs for points (8.0), field goal percentage (.516), three-point field goal percentage (.472), free throw percentage (.768), rebounds (2.4) and assists (2.8). His 47.2% (76-161 3FG) mark from beyond the arc with Dallas is the highest three-point field goal percentage in franchise history (min. 100 3FGA)."
Exum, who is the son of NBL legend Cecil, was drafted fifth overall by the Utah Jazz in 2014.
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