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LAS VEGAS — He’s been called “The Mystery.”
Unless you’re an NBA scout, Saturday’s NBA Summer League debut for Utah Jazz rookie Dante Exum was your first chance to see the Australian sensation play basketball against an opposing team.
Exum is no longer a mystery.
He showed why the Jazz made him the No. 5 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft in a 74-70 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
“You get into the hype of the game and you’re running 100 miles per hour, you want to do this and do that and you want to get the ball and try to take it yourself, but I tried to calm those thoughts and just play the system we’ve been taught,” Exum said about his first NBA action.
His numbers were pedestrian, just 10 points, three rebounds and three assists on 4-10 shooting, but Exum showed the quick first step, court vision and playmaking ability that have many scouts believing he has star potential.
“He was excited to play,” said Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder. “He had some seams that he was able to get to the rim. It’s been good to see him. He’s capable of making plays for his teammates, and he enjoys doing it.”
He was excited to play. He had some seams that he was able to get to the rim. It's been good to see him. He's capable of making plays for his teammates, and he enjoys doing it.
–Quin Snyder
Exum and second-year point guard Trey Burke had no trouble playing together at the same time. In fact, the two seem to be already developing chemistry on the court.
Burke and Exum connected on a perfectly executed alley-oop early in the first quarter, which could be a sign of things to come for the young backcourt duo.
“Everybody always asks can they play together, well we should just watch the game and see how they do it. They are both unselfish,” Snyder said.
“I definitely think we are growing as a tandem,” Burke said. “He’s still a young player. He has a lot of potential and a lot of growth. It’s early in the summer, so there’s no telling how good he’ll be in October.”
Exum believes trust in Snyder’s system will be the key to success in Summer League and beyond when it comes to the ability of him and Burke to play together and lead the team to wins.
“Coach Snyder is definitely going to put in a system for us to succeed, and I think if we both stick to what coach is saying and work together, it can be a good thing,” Exum said. “We work together and no one is trying to steal anything from anyone.”
The Jazz continue Summer League action Monday when they face Jabari Parker and the Milwaukee Bucks at 8:30 MDT.
