Australian star Dante Exum has wasted no time in making a powerful impression as a Dallas Mavericks participant of their pre-season conflict towards Actual Madrid.
Exum, who final performed within the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021, moved to the Mavs in July from Serbian crew Partizan.
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In his first pre-season sport for his new crew, Exum logged 26 minutes of courtroom time — probably the most amongst Dallas’ gamers — and posted a powerful stat line of 13 factors, 9 assists and two rebounds in a 127-123 loss.
Nonetheless, the second that made basketball followers sit up and take discover was his insane swat to disclaim Actual Madrid small ahead Dzanan Musa.
Because the Bosnian drove in direction of the ring, Exum flew up and denied Musa on the rim with a surprising block.
The Aussie’s play even had the Mavs bench standing up in appreciation of his efforts.
Though it could be pre-season, Exum confirmed loads of promise towards Actual Madrid as he staked his declare to be closely concerned this season.
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The very fact he performed probably the most minutes of all Dallas gamers can be an encouraging signal from head coach Jason Kidd that Exum can have a task to play.
Mavs followers actually shared the identical sentiment.
Exum isn’t the one Australian on the Mavs roster, with Josh Inexperienced additionally seeing some pre-season motion towards the Spanish facet.
Inexperienced scored 9 factors and had three rebounds and assists from his 18 minutes on courtroom.
Whether or not Inexperienced and Exum share loads of sport time collectively throughout the NBA season stays to be seen, however it might be some sight to behold.
NBL SIDE BLOWN AWAY IN NBA REALITY CHECK
Two years in the past the Adelaide 36ers set a brand new customary for NBL groups by toppling the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in a surprising pre-season end result when Josh Giddey was enjoying for the Australian outfit.
However any hopes the Cairns Taipans had of emulating that feat of their conflict with the Washington Wizards on Wednesday had been blown away in a 44-point first quarter demolition by the NBA outfit that led to a humbling 145-82 defeat.
The Taipans had been down by as many as 65 factors within the last quarter because the Wizards went to their bench, utilizing 16 gamers to inflict most harm on their well-beaten opponents.
Regardless of being three video games into their common season within the NBL, the Taipans had been no match for Kyle Kuzma and the Wizards who had been enjoying their opening match of the NBA pre-season in Washington.
The opening gambit from the house facet was simply the beginning of what was to come back, with a 21-point quarter-time lead, 36 at halftime, then a mammoth 48 factors on the last change because the Wizards placed on a present of expertise and energy.
Even with Kuzma given a relaxation final within the sport, after powering his strategy to 22 factors, which allowed final yr’s NBL MVP Xavier Cooks, now with the Wizards, to get courtroom time, there was little respite for the Taipans.
For the Taipans, who solely had 9 gamers after Sam Waardenburg and Sam Mennenga had been made unavailable because of sickness, Akoldah Gak was the main scorer with 17 factors, with Patrick Miller subsequent greatest with 15.
It’s the fifth time in seven years that NBL groups will take part within the NBA pre-season, with the Taipans coming off a controversial 89-86 win over the Brisbane Bullets final weekend.
The Taipans can be trying to ship one thing higher after they play their second sport of the US tour towards the Toronto Raptors.