“We all know how hard he will work to make a full recovery and look forward to his return to play”. It appears unlikely that Exum will return to the Australian team when the competition begins, but no further diagnosis has been made.
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Dante Exum has suffered a torn ACL. The injury occurred when Exum pro-hopped to the lane on a drive and immediately went down in pain, similar to how Derrick Rose tore his ACL in 2012. With first-year head coach coach Quin Snyder on the sideline and developing rookie Rudy Gobert defending the rim, the Jazz became one of the Western Conference’s most interesting teams down the stretch, including posting an 8-1 stretch in early March.
The Milwaukee Bucks’ number-two pick Jabari Parker was also felled by the injury 25 games into the 2014/15 season.
Jazz president Randy Rigby admitted that the injury could be a big blow to their campaign next season, but he insisted they have no regrets because allowing their players, particularly the young prospects, to play for their national teams will be vital to their development.
Exum was drafted by the Jazz with the No. 5 pick in 2014 and started 41 games a year ago.
Exum suffered the damage throughout an Olympic qualifying recreation between Australia and Slovenia. While the 20-year-old is not exactly expected to deliver on his promising talents this upcoming season, he figured to be an integral part of what the Jazz are looking to do.
The Jazz have three other point guards on their current roster, including former starter Trey Burke, recently signed Brazilian playmaker Raul Neto and summer league standout Bryce Cotton, who’s on a nonguaranteed deal.
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Jazz president Randy Rigby has been supportive of Exum’s participation in global matches, despite it cost Utah its sophomore guard.
