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Before we get to media day quotes, let's all revel in the fact that we have a rookie who is hyped nationally and internationally.
Better look at the rookie Dante Exum @utahjazz @daanteee #NBA2K15 pic.twitter.com/f79o4NNEO4
— #NBA2K15 (@NBA2KGames) September 29, 2014
Thanks to @redbull for hooking me up with this awesome PS4/Destiny pack !! #redbull #givesyoups4 http://t.co/ZIYkyXoL6A
— Danté Exum (@daanteee) September 26, 2014
In addition, Dante Exum is answering questions like a seasoned vet. He's so veteran savvy that he doesn't know the new City Creek Mall exists.
Probably the most shocking thing I heard at Media Day was Dante Exum saying he'd been to the Gateway.
— Aaron Falk (@tribjazz) September 30, 2014
Exum did fail at one question though.
Dante Exum likes the Cheescake factory. He's already a seasoned vet.
— Kris (@5kl) September 29, 2014
C'mon, Exum. This is Gordon Hayward's team now. Olive Garden. Olive Garden. Rookie mistake. Gordon, get this guy an all you can eat pasta card. That will help him see the light.
Dante Exum belongs in the NBA. He loves the Cheesecake Factory.
— moni (@monilogue) September 29, 2014
If @daanteee can navigate through the Cheesecake Factory menu, he can certainly navigate through NBA defenses. #analysis
— David J. Smith (@davidjsmith1232) September 29, 2014
This is probably the best thing I've heard about Exum's game. We've heard how fast he is and how athletic he is, but we tend to forget that he's a point guard first, shooting guard in progress.
—@1280Spence asked Rodney Hood what he'd take from Dante Exum's game: "...the way he sees plays before they happen."
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) September 29, 2014
I can say from his Summer League playing that he anticipates where his teammates are going to be and that caught a lot of potential NBA players off guard. His teammates better be looking for the ball when it's in Exum's hands because if they're open they'll be receiving a pass. And it's going to be highlight worthy.
While Dante Exum runs like a gazelle he also is as lean as a gazelle. That is not lost on Dante. When asked what his biggest challenge in the NBA will be Dante responded the physicality of the league.
I think physicality. You know, to step up and play with grown men compared to what I've been used to...I got a quick first step, and getting into the paint and trying to finish over guys, I think, and play with contact. So I think that's gonna be the main thing. I'm gonna have to try and adjust as quick as possible to it.
via jazzfanatical.wordpress.com
I've talked to Amar about this and he asked me what was one thing Dante should work on this year. Instead of answering his jump shot or finishing ability, I just said getting comfortable in the league. There's so much for him to take in as a young teenager. Just letting him settle in will be the biggest improvement he can make. I think we'll see big things from Exum in the beginning of the year then he'll hit a huge wall in December. By about February after the all-star break, I think that's when you'll see the light go on for Exum. While he may not win Rookie of the Year, he's going to be a highlight machine and next year, he'll take a Paul George-ian leap in production and ability.
Dante was asked how he did at the World Cup. His response sounds like he wanted to play more.
Yeah, the Worlds was a bit up and down for me. You know, I didn't get as many minutes as I wan-would've liked to, but you know, it's all about a learning experience for me, and you know, [Australian national team head coach] Andrej [Lemanis] made that clear with me. And so, I had a good experience with it, in learning how to be professional in that kind of environment.
via jazzfanatical.wordpress.com
While I do believe he needed to play more I think it was a good opportunity for Dante to learn about having to pay his dues. With Utah, he's going to be thrown at a lot of situations that he's probably not going to be on the winning side of. That's good. That's how you learn. You learn more from failures than successes. But being able to see it from afar and watch his teammates and how they carried themselves at the FIBA tournament helped tremendously. It sounds like it was communicated to Exum that he needed to wait his turn. The Olympics hopefully will be a whole different ball game for the Aussies.
As you can imagine not playing can have a huge effect on your confidence. Here's what Exum had to say about that.
I think so. You know, a lot of people have been kinda putting me down. ‘Cause I'm only 19 years old, and I know it's gonna be a patience thing, but I know both me and Rodney, we're competitors, and we wanna be the best player we can right now. And we're, so, we're coming in everyday and trying to get better so when it comes to the opening night, that we're ready. And it's not about trying to be patient, so.
via jazzfanatical.wordpress.com
To quote the Kanter, they're young and hungry. I think the lack of experience can sometime be a strength because the cynicism of failure has not set in yet. There'll be growing pains but I think Quin Snyder is the right person to help Dante. He seems like a cerebral character and he's going to be taken care of in Quin's guard-centric system.