Danté Exum Bio
Danté Exum is an Australian professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on 13 July 1995, he rose to international attention when he was selected by the Utah Jazz with the fifth overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, choosing to bypass college basketball entirely. Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall, Exum has built a versatile career across the NBA and top European leagues, and he represents the Australian national team in international competition.
Over the course of his career, Exum has suited up for the Utah Jazz, the Cleveland Cavaliers, FC Barcelona, and Partizan Belgrade before returning to the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks. He is also an Olympic bronze medalist, having helped Australia finish third at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Early Life and Background
Danté Exum was born on 13 July 1995 in East Melbourne, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, to American parents. His father, Cecil Exum, played college basketball at the University of North Carolina and won an NCAA championship in 1982 on a celebrated squad that also featured Michael Jordan and James Worthy. Cecil was later drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 1984 and went on to play in Australia’s National Basketball League for the North Melbourne Giants, Melbourne Tigers, and Geelong Supercats. His mother also attended the University of North Carolina.
Growing up in Melbourne, Exum played junior basketball for the Keilor Thunder and also played Australian rules football at school. He attended Thomas Carr College in Melbourne before later moving to Canberra, where he enrolled at the Australian Institute of Sport and Lake Ginninderra Secondary College. In 2013, he competed for Lake Ginninderra at the Australian National High School Basketball Championships and helped the school win the title.
Exum has an older brother named Jamaar and a twin sister named Tierra. He is also a passionate supporter of the Essendon Football Club of the Australian Football League, a personal interest he has shown publicly during NBA All-Star Weekend events.
Path to Basketball
Exum’s reputation as a top prospect grew quickly in 2013, when he participated in the Nike Hoop Summit for the World Select Team and recorded 16 points, three rebounds, and two assists in a 112–98 win over the USA Junior Select Team. That same year, he represented Australia’s junior national team at both the 2012 FIBA Under-17 World Cup and the 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, earning All-Tournament Team honors at both events.
In October 2013, Exum graduated from high school in Australia and had the option to enroll in college and play in the 2013–14 NCAA season, but he chose to forgo that route. On 28 January 2014, he signed with agents from Landmark Sports and officially declared for the 2014 NBA draft, setting the stage for his professional career.
Danté Exum Career
Early Career (2014–2015)
Exum was selected by the Utah Jazz with the fifth overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft and made his NBA debut on 29 October 2014, scoring five points off the bench in 9½ minutes during a 104–93 loss to the Houston Rockets. On 22 January 2015, he scored a career-high 15 points, including five three-pointers, in a 101–99 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, and on 1 April he recorded a career-high 12 assists in a 98–84 win over the Denver Nuggets.
He appeared in all 82 games as a rookie, starting 41 of them, and averaged 4.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 22.2 minutes per game. Exum became only the 10th rookie in Jazz history to play in all 82 games, scored in double figures 13 times, led the team in assists 11 times, and was selected to compete in the 2015 Rising Stars Challenge during NBA All-Star Weekend.
Utah Jazz Era (2014–2019)
Exum’s time in Utah was disrupted by injuries. In August 2015, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while playing for Australia in Slovenia, which forced him to miss the entire 2015–16 season. He returned for the 2016–17 season and scored a career-high 22 points on 11 March 2017 in a 112–104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The following October, he underwent shoulder surgery and did not return until 15 March 2018, when he scored 10 points in a 116–88 win over the Phoenix Suns. He capped that season with a 21-point performance in a 107–97 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on 30 March 2018.
On 6 July 2018, Exum re-signed with the Jazz and posted a season-high 20 points on 27 December 2018 against the Philadelphia 76ers. Two days later, he recorded 13 points and a career-high 13 assists in a 129–97 victory over the New York Knicks. His later Jazz seasons were again cut short by injuries, including an ankle sprain in January 2019 and a partially torn patellar tendon in his right knee in March 2019.
Cleveland Cavaliers (2019–2021)
On 24 December 2019, Exum was traded, alongside two second-round picks, to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Jordan Clarkson. On 16 January 2021, he was part of a four-team deal that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets; the Cavaliers received Taurean Prince and Jarrett Allen in the transaction, and Exum was moved to the Houston Rockets. He did not play in any regular season games for Houston, although he did see sparse preseason minutes.
On 17 September 2021, Exum re-signed with the Rockets but was waived on 16 October 2021, opening the door for his move overseas.
FC Barcelona (2021–2022)
On 7 December 2021, Exum signed with FC Barcelona of the Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. His time in Spain included winning the Spanish Cup in 2022, adding a major European club trophy to his résumé before his next career step.
Partizan Belgrade (2022–2023)
On 10 July 2022, Exum signed with Partizan Mozzart Bet of the Basketball League of Serbia, the ABA League, and the EuroLeague. Partizan was eliminated by Real Madrid in the EuroLeague playoffs that season. Over the 2022–23 campaign, Exum averaged 13.2 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game, and he was named to the All-ABA League Team. Partizan finished the year by winning the ABA League championship, defeating Crvena zvezda 3–2 in the finals.
Dallas Mavericks Era (2023–Present)
On 14 July 2023, Exum signed with the Dallas Mavericks and made his debut on 25 October in a 126–119 win over the San Antonio Spurs. On 12 December 2023, he scored a season-high 26 points with a career-high seven made three-pointers in a 127–125 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. In 55 games, including 17 starts, he averaged 7.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, and he helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Boston Celtics in five games.
Exum made 18 appearances with 12 starts during the 2024–25 NBA season, averaging 9.1 points, 1.7 assists, and 2.8 rebounds. On 14 March 2025, he was ruled out for the remainder of the season after breaking a bone in his left hand against the Houston Rockets. On 2 September 2025, he re-signed with the Mavericks on a one-year contract, but on 20 November 2025, he was again ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his right knee.
Driving Style and Strengths
Exum is known for his combination of size and playmaking at the guard position, allowing him to defend multiple positions and run an offense as a point guard. His three-point shooting improved notably in Dallas, where he set a career high with seven made triples against the Lakers, and his court vision has produced multiple double-digit assist games throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Exum’s career highlights include being only the 10th Jazz rookie to play all 82 games, winning the 2023 ABA League championship with Partizan, and reaching the 2024 NBA Finals with the Mavericks. He also earned the EuroLeague Magic Moment award in 2023 and an Olympic bronze medal with Australia at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Danté Exum Career Wins
Exum has collected team trophies in both Europe and the NBA. His most prominent club honor is the 2023 ABA League championship with Partizan Belgrade, and he has also lifted the 2022 Spanish Cup with FC Barcelona.
Partizan Belgrade Highlights
During the 2022–23 season, Exum helped Partizan capture the ABA League title with a 3–2 finals victory over Crvena zvezda. He was also named to the All-ABA League Team that year, recognizing his 13.2 points and 2.7 assists per game.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to his European titles, Exum won a Spanish Cup with FC Barcelona in 2022 and was honored with the 2023 EuroLeague Magic Moment award. He was also a member of the Australian team that won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Danté Exum Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Exum’s father, Cecil Exum, is a former University of North Carolina basketball player and 1982 NCAA champion who went on to play professionally in Australia’s National Basketball League. His mother also attended the University of North Carolina, and his older brother Jamaar and twin sister Tierra round out his immediate family.
Personal Life
Off the court, Exum remains a devoted supporter of the Essendon Football Club of the Australian Football League, and he wore Essendon-inspired shoes during the Rising Stars Challenge at the 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend. He was born in Melbourne and has spent parts of his professional career living abroad in Spain and Serbia.
2025 Season Performance
Exum’s 2025 calendar was shaped by two major injury setbacks. He was first ruled out for the remainder of the 2024–25 NBA season on 14 March 2025 after breaking a bone in his left hand during a game against the Houston Rockets, finishing that campaign with averages of 9.1 points, 1.7 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in 18 appearances.
He re-signed with the Dallas Mavericks on a one-year contract on 2 September 2025, signaling the franchise’s continued belief in his role as a versatile guard off the bench. His return to the court was delayed almost immediately, however, as he underwent surgery on his right knee on 20 November 2025 and was ruled out for the rest of the 2025–26 season before appearing in a regular season game.
Looking ahead, Exum’s recovery timeline will be the key storyline for his next chapter with the Mavericks, with the team likely to count on his perimeter shooting and playmaking once he is cleared to return to action.