The Utah Jazz have confirmed that Dante Exum has a torn ACL in his left knee.
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The 20-year-old suffered the injury while representing Australiain an worldwide friendly against Slovenia in Ljubljana.
Driving to the paint, Exum jumped to shoot but flung his head back in pain after putting pressure on his left leg. The Jazz announced that he will return to Salt Lake City for further treatment and a diagnosis. Exum played in all 82 games as a rookie, and moved into the starting lineup in late January. “We all know how hard he will work to make a full recovery and look forward to his return to play”.
This injury will probably keep Exum out the entire season.
Exum was drafted by the Jazz with the No. 5 pick in 2014 and started 41 games previous year. They would be able to acquire him for little most likely, as the Heat have been open to moving him for a year, and he struggled last year in the aftermath of LeBron James’ departure.
Although it was just one Summer League game, but Utah is hopeful that Exum will become a huge part of their future.
Exum suffered the damage throughout an Olympic qualifying recreation between Australia and Slovenia. After scoring 20 points and handing out five assists, he was sidelined for the final seven games because of the injury. Both Hayward and Alec Burks (who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury) are capable enough secondary ball-handlers to help cover for Trey Burke’s weaknesses and the lack of another proven option at point guard. His performance this season was set to be a bonus if he developed.
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Golden State centre Andrew Bogut is playing for the Boomers for the first time since the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, but Mills’s San Antonio team-mate Aron Baynes and Exum’s Jazz team-mate Joe Ingles are both unavailable.
