SLC Dunk - Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum's ParadisoOur Team Is On The Floorhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/29190/slc-redunk-fv.jpg2015-04-01T14:52:17-06:00http://www.slcdunk.com/rss/stream/56193012015-04-01T14:52:17-06:002015-04-01T14:52:17-06:00ESPN projects Dante to be best PG from '14 class
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tECsOYV9lAAOJpo_foiXm2kj3sk=/0x301:2589x2027/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46025342/usa-today-8382203.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Despite not blowing the average fan away, one of the best scouts in the game is still crazy about Dante</p> <p><u><b><a target="_blank" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/12595966/projecting-rookie-point-guards">ESPN's Coach Thorpe just dropped an In$ider article</a></b></u> where he breaks down, ranks, and projects the future of the 2014-2015 rookie class point guards. It's a flashy class, where you have a few guys making marks in big markets, and a number of guys oozing with potential all over the league.</p>
<p><span class="sbn-auto-link"><b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/exumda01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Dante Exum</a></b></span> is our guy, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Utah Jazz</a> fans need to recognize that he wasn't drafted to be the best point guard as a rookie -- but to be the best point guard over his entire career, including his peak. And Thorpe seems to agree:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It's a bit ironic that the Jazz started playing better once Exum entered the starting lineup, because in some ways they're playing 4-on-5 when he's on the court. Exum really has little idea how to play on offense right now.</p>
<p>The good news is he appears eager to learn how to be a point guard. He is doing well as a ball-mover, and he doesn't force the issue on offense. The fact that he's rarely in a rush is a sign that he's trying to figure out this complex game. And there is value in having a point guard run the team's offense, especially when he can't score efficiently on his own.</p>
<p>Exum is showing incredible potential on D, too, with his length and eagerness to defend. So, putting it all together, it's easy to see why the Jazz drafted him and then inserted him into the starting unit.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://espn.go.com/gif/2015/0401/exum-1.gif"></p>
<p>Next season, he should be a vastly improved player because the shots he's creating and missing now will be ones he makes far more often. His length and size will be of great help to him, and the game will continue to slow down for him. If you look past the missed shots and confusing decisions at times, you'll see his star potential.</p>
<p><b>Best bet: All-Star</b></p>
<p>- <u><b><a target="_blank" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/12595966/projecting-rookie-point-guards">David Thorpe, ESPN Insider, 2015</a></b></u></p>
</blockquote>
<p>I agree with all of this, and furthermore, I look at what he does do on offense -- and right now he's shooting better from the spot up three point range than most people expected. Sure, he also turns down a lot of open jumpers to drive, but this is a learning year. And Dante is learning quite a bit -- while teaching fans the virtue of patience.</p>
<p>He's not the only player Thorpedo goes over, read the full article for the full break downs. Or just cheat here and see what he has to say:</p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="513">
<colgroup> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 512; width: 11pt;" width="14"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3840; width: 79pt;" width="105"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3510; width: 72pt;" width="96"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4864; width: 100pt;" width="133"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 6034; width: 124pt;" width="165"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl63" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 11pt;" align="center" height="20" width="14"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="width: 79pt;" align="center" width="105">Player</td>
<td class="xl63" style="width: 72pt;" align="center" width="96">Team</td>
<td class="xl63" style="width: 100pt;" align="center" width="133">
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft">2014 NBA Draft</a> Pick:</td>
<td class="xl63" style="width: 124pt;" align="center" width="165">Best bet:</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl63" style="height: 15.0pt; background: #63BE7B; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center" height="20">1</td>
<td class="xl63" align="center">Dante Exum</td>
<td class="xl63" align="center">Jazz</td>
<td class="xl63" align="center">5</td>
<td class="xl63" align="center">All-Star</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl63" style="height: 15.0pt; background: #A1D07E; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center" height="20">2</td>
<td class="xl63" align="center"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smartma01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Marcus Smart</a></b></span></td>
<td class="xl63" align="center"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Celtics</a></td>
<td class="xl63" align="center">6</td>
<td class="xl63" align="center">Long-term starter</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl63" style="height: 15.0pt; background: #DFE282; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center" height="20">3</td>
<td class="xl63" align="center"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/paytoel01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Elfrid Payton</a></b></span></td>
<td class="xl63" align="center"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Magic</a></td>
<td class="xl63" align="center">10</td>
<td class="xl63" align="center">Long-term starter</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl63" style="height: 15.0pt; background: #FED280; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center" height="20">4</td>
<td class="xl63" align="center"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lavinza01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Zach LaVine</a></b></span></td>
<td class="xl63" align="center"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Timberwolves</a></td>
<td class="xl63" align="center">13</td>
<td class="xl63" align="center">Sixth man / scoring guard</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl63" style="height: 15.0pt; background: #FB9D75; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center" height="20">5</td>
<td class="xl63" align="center"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/napiesh01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Shabazz Napier</a></b></span></td>
<td class="xl63" align="center"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Heat</a></td>
<td class="xl63" align="center">24</td>
<td class="xl63" align="center">Second-unit guard</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl63" style="height: 15.0pt; background: #F8696B; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center" height="20">6</td>
<td class="xl63" align="center"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Jordan Clarkson</a></b></span></td>
<td class="xl63" align="center"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a></td>
<td class="xl63" align="center">46</td>
<td class="xl63" align="center">Starting point guard</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm happy the Jazz got Dante. And he's going to make LOTS of Jazz fans happy in the future. <u><b><a target="_blank" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/12595966/projecting-rookie-point-guards">Read the full article here</a></b></u>!</p>
https://www.slcdunk.com/research-statistics-analytics/2015/4/1/8327389/jazz-dante-exum-espn-marcus-smart-elfrid-payton-zach-lavine-shabazz-napier-jordan-clarksonAllThatAmar2014-12-18T13:31:06-07:002014-12-18T13:31:06-07:00Rookie of the year Race: Dante creeping up
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jzduEy3m_FZ47XhqKI0Lzc9AZvQ=/0x105:2142x1533/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44365626/458525836.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>After the first month of the season Dante Exum was in the middle of the pack, some big games this month has him rising</p> <p><u><b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.slcdunk.com/research-statistics-analytics/2014/12/4/7336323/utah-jazz-rookies-dante-exum-rodney-hood-and-joe-ingles-are-out-of">Two weeks ago we looked at the Rookie of the Year race</a></b></u> after a month plus of action. Back then the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Utah Jazz</a> had a player almost playing 20 mpg. The funny point is that player was <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/i/inglejo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Joe Ingles</a></b>, not <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/exumda01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Dante Exum</a></b>. Things have changed, and Dante is now creeping up on the Top 10 players.Out of the 60 players drafted last June, and the 21 undrafted rookies, I had to pick the most major players to cover. While I did input everyone's stats into the spreadsheet, only the players who are averaging 14.0+ mpg are worth tracking right now.</p>
<p>And here they are (sorted from most to least minutes).</p>
<p align="center"><a target="_blank" href="https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2700104/2014_2015_Rookie_of_the_Year_Race_-_Dec_18_Stats.0.PNG"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="2014 2015 Rookie of the Year Race - Dec 18 Stats" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Rjgfbv25w6FPRowIV7AAWnMpi-w=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2700104/2014_2015_Rookie_of_the_Year_Race_-_Dec_18_Stats.0.PNG">
</figure>
</a></p>
<p>Minutes are really the only thing you need in order to make a splash. The more minutes the greater the opportunity. And the more opportunity, the more stats. And the more stats, sadly, the more recognition you get. And that recognition helps make you a star player. The Jazz have been without one for a while now, and need one. <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/haywago01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Gordon Hayward</a></b> could be one, but coming into the draft the Jazz felt like they had to get a player who had that potential.</p>
<p><b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wiggian01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Andrew Wiggins</a></b> and <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/noelne01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Nerlens Noel</a></b> look to be the front runner for the ROY award this season after <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/parkeja01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Jabari Parker</a></b> was recently shelved with a season ending injury. That sucks, but it was running away with the award. Beyond the ROY race there are the 10 spots for All-Rookie 1st and 2nd team to worry about. Exum has a chance to crack it, but he's going to have to be a more effective player on the court in terms of his box score production.</p>
<p>Of course, there are other players looking to crack to Rookie Top 10, like the not listed players: <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/ennisja01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">James Ennis</a></b>, <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/anderky01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Kyle Anderson</a></b>, <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcderdo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Doug McDermott</a></b>, and <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/harrijo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Joe Harris</a></b>. They are getting some time, and playing well for a playoff team can help make you look better than you actually are.</p>
<p>I don't remember if last season's Rookie teams were just players on lotto teams, but that's not a knock on a player for the ROY award. <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/cartemi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Michael Carter-Williams</a></b> won last season, fending off <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/oladivi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Victor Oladipo</a></b> and <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/burketr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Trey Burke</a></b>. All three players have a younger teammate in the running this season as well.</p>
<p>But back to Dante . . . I like to think he's one of the best PGs in this class, however, in terms of getting on the floor he's behind <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lavinza01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Zach LaVine</a></b>, <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/paytoel01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Elfrid Payton</a></b>, and <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/napiesh01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Shabazz Napier</a></b>. If <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rondora01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Rajon Rondo</a></b> is traded I would expect <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smartma01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Marcus Smart</a></b> to get more playing time too. It's important for me that guys like Dante are one of the best players at their position. The draft is something the Jazz can't mess up with. But right now we're playing the long game, while some of these other teams are playing for today.</p>
<p>I have faith in the Utah Jazz scouting process, and their drafting process. And I have faith in Dante Exum. And watching him play more and more minutes makes me comfortable with the idea that he's going to end this season as a Top 10 rookie.</p>
https://www.slcdunk.com/2014/12/18/7417351/nba-rookie-of-the-year-race-2015-december-update-has-dante-exumAllThatAmar2014-08-22T17:16:40-06:002014-08-22T17:16:40-06:00FIBA 2014: Three things Dante is doing really well
<figure>
<img alt="Always be holding a Red Bull" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/71SOyOmBbPoNkBWrsqq9IXe14EA=/297x1023:2349x2391/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/37328880/Dante_Exum_After_Party_01.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Always be holding a Red Bull | Used with permission from Paul Yoffe</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We now have 13 games under the belt this summer, what do we see?</p> <p><b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/exumda01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Dante Exum</a></b> is, flat out, a quantum leap compared to guys like <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/watsoea01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Earl Watson</a></b>, <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/tinslja01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Jamaal Tinsley</a></b>, and <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?search=John+Lucas&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">John Lucas</a></b> III. It's likely that he will at least start the season off the bench, and as a result, be our best back back-up point guard since <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/stockjo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">John Stockton</a></b>. (Or, uh, maybe <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/eisleho01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Howard Eisley</a></b>?) Of course, we don't see <span>Dante Exum</span> as a bench player.</p>
<p>Or at least not for a very long part of his career.</p>
<p>It's nice to imagine that with his combination of athleticism, size, and instincts that he will one day be good enough to start for an NBA Finals contender. He basically has the body of a small forward, but has played point guard all his life. And it's going to be a struggle to see where he's going to get playing time this season under <span>Quin Snyder</span>.</p>
<p>For those of us following his career we've now seen him in 13 games that all pretty much don't matter much in the big picture: five in the Las Vegas Summer league, and now 8 games with Australia against the likes of Finland (3 times), Ukraine (twice), Lithuania (once), Philippines (once), and France (once). The Aussies will play against France one more in their last tune up before the FIBA World Cup on Sunday. That will make it 14 games that don't really matter.</p>
<p>What we're seeing is that right now he's not even starting for Australia, and in the games he is playing there (aside from two good games) he's basically Earl Watson-ing it out there. Perhaps that's what his coaches want to see during these friendlies, I don't really know. He took one shot in 20.65 mins in his last game. That's not the aggression we want to see.</p>
<p>Despite the lack of an actual game plan or reliance upon Exum so far with the Aussies, and despite him starting at point guard for only one game with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Jazz</a> so far, there are plenty of things to be impressed by.</p>
<ol>
<li>I cannot stress enough how impressed I am with his defense. He's that right combination of size and athleticism to be able to blanket guys, especially when they move around with the ball. It's something <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kirilan01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Andrei Kirilenko</a></b> was really good at doing as well, and ball denial is the highest form of defense there is. If the guy you are defending can't even get the ball on offense you are killing it. But this is a secondary skill for Dante. I am surprised by his on the ball defense. Everyone gets lost on pick and rolls, and his team defensive instincts lead him to defend no-man's land quite a but, but his on ball defense is so very impressive for a teenager. He is good at preventing guys from getting by him. It's one thing to stay between your man and the basket on defense by moving backwards and giving up ground. That's not what Dante does. He's long enough and quick enough to shut down potential places for his man to go. Against some of the weaker back up PGs he has played against so far this has been demonstrated quite a bit. He's going to struggle as an NBA rookie on defense, like all NBA rooks do, but he'll have a fighting chance against most of them. Of course, the guys who make a living off of pick and rolls (<b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/curryst01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Stephen Curry</a></b>) or guys who are tanks (<b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/westbru01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Russell Westbrook</a></b>) are still going to find their way to their favorite spots against Exum. But they'll do so expending much more energy than they've had to against Jazz point guards in recent years.</li>
<li>Passing. Passing. Passing. This kid can flat out pass. He gets a ton of "hockey-assists" where he's the man who makes the pass to the guy who gets the assist. This is invaluable in a multi-pointed attack. Particularly as a primary ball handler it's his job to elicit a change in the defense through his dribble penetration. This usually means someone is open. And instead of making the dangerous pass to the open man he trusts in his ability to make space for his shooters, and then makes the pass to the pass that gets to the open man. This is a mental thing. He understands the game and does not do risky things. (Compare him to how <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/burketr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Trey Burke</a></b> would just sometimes put his head down, get jammed up, and then make a play in a dangerous part of the floor.) So far with the Aussies he has an Assist to Turn Over ratio of 4.29 assists to 1.00 turn overs. For a guy who has the ball in his hands so much this is pretty darn good.</li>
<li>He is a smart guy. He has shown to be pretty patient, and doesn't jack up a lot of bad shots. Sure, he went 1/8 FG vs. France the other day, but France is one of the better clubs out there. He is someone who has been making smart plays all summer long. From Vegas, to these European friendlies, he has been putting things together quite well. A point guard with these good instincts, and quickness, aided by a 6'9.5" wingspan, means a lot of deflections. (Food for thought, he has a longer wingspan than <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/haywago01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Gordon Hayward</a></b>, <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hoodro01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Rodney Hood</a></b>, <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/f/felixca01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Carrick Felix</a></b>, and all of our wings and guards not named <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/burksal01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Alec Burks</a></b>) Not everyone knows how to use their talents, or advantages. He does. I guess for him he has to keep things simple right now as he is going from playing against high school guys to play against, you know, 10 year vets in the FIBA World Cup. In doing so he has decided not to try to do too much so far. And it's working.</li>
</ol>
<p>Yes, of course there are problems being put on display as well. He went 3/18 from downtown in Vegas, and so far against these National clubs he's had gone only 4/15. If you add it up his 7/33 shooting (21.21 3pt%) isn't that impressive. But that isn't part of his game right now. And people add things to their games all of the time. No one thought Alec Burks would be a great three point shooter but he shot better than Gordon Hayward did last year -- shooting 35%. Exum isn't a great shooter, period. He's not making a lot of his shots from anywhere. I am concerned with his free throw shooting though. For his 2014 Summer total he has gone to the line 19 times, making only 10 (52.63 ft%); and what is worse, nay inexcusable, is that for his size, speed, and athleticism advantages -- he has only going to the free throw line 1.46 times a game.</p>
<p>I guess he's more interested in the "drive and dish" right now, instead of the new NBA point guard go-to-move of the "drive and no dish". He said it best, he's a point guard. He's going to have to learn to be a bit more selfish though.</p>
<p>Still, the per 36 statline of 10.6 ppg, 5.5 apg, 4.0 rpg, and 1.5 spg isn't all that bad for a teen.</p>
<p align="center"><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/USQCbcDoJW8?rel=0" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>We're going to love him most for his passing, but there are a lot of specifically impressive things about his game. The more we see of him a) the more data we have, and honestly, b) the more we find to fall in love with.</p>
https://www.slcdunk.com/research-statistics-analytics/2014/8/22/6058161/fiba-2014-dante-exum-utah-jazz-australia-pin-point-passing-will-impressAllThatAmar2014-08-15T15:26:10-06:002014-08-15T15:26:10-06:00Correction: Dante's having a sensible summer
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/o0Tfx7If5LXU8svjBm4HkSLqcX4=/0x96:4000x2763/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/37000622/20140626_jla_ae5_071.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This is necessary.</p> <p>Okay fellow peeps, <b><a href="http://www.slcdunk.com/videos-podcasts/2014/8/14/6004037/fiba-world-cup-2014-utah-jazz-dante-exum-espn-australia" target="_blank">YESTERDAY </a></b>I wrote about <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Utah Jazz</a> guard <b><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/exumda01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com" target="_blank">Dante Exum</a></b>, and detailed what he's been up to this summer in the run up to the FIBA World Cup 2014. Of course, I didn't even watch two of the games he was in, and didn't even mention one of the games he played in. <span>Dante Exum</span> is going to be an important part of our franchise over the next eternity, but right now there isn't a lot of data about him that's available. The last thing I want to do is present the wrong, incorrect, or incomplete data. And that's precisely what I did yesterday.</p>
<p align="center"><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4901008/Well_Actually.PNG"><img src="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4901008/Well_Actually_medium.PNG" class="photo" alt="Well_actually_medium"></a> <br id="1408132777608"></p>
<p>So this is me "Well Actually..."-ing myself, because I presented the wrong information as fact. So if you enjoy this post, say thank you to <b><a href="http://www.slcdunk.com/videos-podcasts/2014/8/14/6004037/fiba-world-cup-2014-utah-jazz-dante-exum-espn-australia#251199094" target="_blank">Chuck Lee</a></b>. And please, anyone else, get at me if you see things that need to be changed / fixed. This is OUR site, not mine. Yesterday was a combination of transcription error and google fatigue. If anything, I need to let the blog posts come to me, instead if jacking it so much.</p>
<p>In a way, I need to play like Dante Exum.</p>
<p>And yesterday I said that he's having a great summer. After reviewing more of the raw footage and pouring over the stats I need to amend that statement and say that he's a potentially great player, playing in the summer.</p>
<p><font color="white">.</font></p>
<h4>Las Vegas Summer League:</h4>
<p>Dante played in five games between July 12th and July 18th. It was against other rookie draft picks, and training camp hopefuls. He wasn't always matched up against another NBA quality player, but all of these guys are professionals. Against the <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia 76ers</a>, <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Milwaukee Bucks</a>, <a href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Denver Nuggets</a>, <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Antonio Spurs</a>, and <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Portland Trail Blazers</a> we all saw glimpses of what he can do. For the LVSL tournament he averaged 26.68 mpg, and played in every game.</p>
<p>In that time he averaged 7.40 ppg, 2.60 rpg, 2.80 apg, 1.40 spg, and 0.20 bpg. If you add it up that's averaging 14.40 BARPS per game. His BARPS / min rate was 0.54, which means he was doing something good out there, but not nearly at that 1 good thing (in the boxscore) to 1 minute of play. BARPS doesn't tell much more of the story than that, but it does indicate that he had some good games and some bad games. In particular I think we agree he had a bigger impact in the first, third, and last game of Vegas. Against Philly he wowed people. Against Denver he was solid and contributed all over the court. And against Portland he finally got a chance to start at point guard and he was the reason we won that game.</p>
<p>He did not shoot very well there, 30.77 fg%, 16.67 3pt%, and 64.29 ft% don't take you very far in life. Of course, we recognize that this is because of a smaller sample size, only 5 games, and in reality, he took 39 total FGA. For the entire Jazz summer league he shot the ball once every 3.42 minutes on the court. As a result, no one can ever call him someone who jacks up shots. He's not <b><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/westbru01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com" target="_blank">Russell Westbrook</a></b> or <b><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rosede01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com" target="_blank">Derrick Rose</a></b> just yet.</p>
<p>For the most part, though, it was his play that mattered more; and not his performance. And he played very well. He deviates from the archetype of the taller, athletic, guy who gets to the rim as a point guard concept. The number one thing I was most impressed with during this first blush period of the Dante/Utah marriage was his basketball IQ. Everyone has a different way of explaining what BBALL IQ is. To me it's someone who understands the ebb and flow of the game. Either it's instinct, or somewhat learned (his day was a pro baller, he grew up watching the game), but whatever it is, he has it.</p>
<p>He showed me as much when he got the game winning steal against the Blazers in the last Vegas game. I don't remember the last time we got an impact play -- out of smarts -- from one of our point guards playing defense.</p>
<p><font color="white">.</font></p>
<h4>National Team Friendlies:</h4>
<p>The Men's Basketball team in Australia, the Boomers, are playing nine tune up games against other National teams before the FIBA World Cup starts. They are spread out in a few groups. The first was a four game set against Finland, Ukraine, Lithuania, and then Finland again. The second group of games are a three game set near Nice, France where Exum and crew will play against the Ukraine, Philippines, and then France. The first game there (vs. UKR) already happened. The last set of games is in Strasbourg, France, against Finland (again), and France (again).</p>
<p>Five of those nine games have happened and we're seeing MORE of Dante. And seeing him in a decidedly non-Jazz way. What does that mean? Well, ideally, this means seeing how he performs in another system. It's free of the legacy of great point guards, and because of proximity, probably in a way that is more natural to how he grew up playing. (You'd think his own country would know how to use him best, right?)</p>
<p>The first game was against Finland on August 8th. This is the game where he got a steal and slipped and appeared to hurt himself on a breakaway layup. I couldn't find a boxscore so I had to watch the game again a second time and track everything he did in it. In his 20.98 mins on the court he finished with 2 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists, and 2 steals. (Please note that in my boxscore-ing of his performance I adjudicated it how NBA scorekeepers do. So maybe in FIBA rules one of those assists wouldn't be counted as such.) He went 1/5 from the field including going 0/2 from downtown. He rarely shot, and was used in a very funny way.</p>
<p>The Aussies seem to share the ball too, so in most cases he was defending the other team's shooting guard, while playing as the secondary ball handler. He excelled with the ball in his hands where he could draw in the defense and find bigmen open near the basket. You don't get 6 assists as the secondary ball handler by accident.</p>
<p>His name game was his explosive game against the Ukraine, where he would finish with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and a three pointer. Counting Vegas this is the second time he was overly-efficient in scoring in, and if he can replicate that at the 2 times in 7 games ratio in the NBA I will be okay with that.</p>
<p>Against Lithuania, the bad boys of Australia's FIBA draw, he did not play so well. He played 23.23 mins (N.B. That's not 23:23, it's 23:14), the most in any of the games so far in Green and Yellow, and ended up with 5 points (2/9 shooting), 1 rebound, and 4 assists. The better teams are obviously going to give him trouble. He was too much of a jump shooter here, but I have to admit that I am pretty encouraged by his ability to defend guards in man defense. His team defense is still a mystery.</p>
<p>The next two games, Finland again, and Ukraine again, brought him down to earth a little bit more.</p>
<p align="center"><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bohm5cYtz3U?rel=0"></iframe><br>Here's his stuff from today, thanks to @<a href="https://twitter.com/DJerome14" target="_blank">DJerome14 </a>on twitter!</p>
<p>But overall in the five 'friendly' games he is playing BETTER (in terms of production rate) than he did in Vegas. And doing it in fewer minutes per game. In the five games he is averaging only 20.14 mpg, which is down from the 26.68 he got in Vegas. To his credit he's averaging 7.00 ppg, 1.80 rpg, 3.60 apg, 0.60 spg, and 0.00 bpg. There are two big differences here beyond the minutes / efficiency.</p>
<p>The first is that he is taking care of the ball much better. In Vegas (5 games) he had 14 assists and 15 turn overs. That's a 1:1 ratio. So far against National clubs (also 5 games) he has 18 assist and only 5 turn overs. And those 5 turn overs all game in the last two games (his less amazing ones). His assist to turn over ratio is 3.60 to 1.00. That's EXACTLY what we want to see.</p>
<p>The second is that he's making shots. his FG% is up from 30.77 to 45.45; his 3pt% is up from 16.67 to 33.33; the only downside is that his "set it up for my bros" play style has made him less aggressive and he has gone to the free throw line only three times in five games (and made only 1 shot).</p>
<p>While his overall average of BARPS per game is down from 14.40 to 13.00, that's mainly because he's playing 6 fewer minutes on the court. His per minute value of 0.65 is approaching (as an average) what his best games in Vegas were.</p>
<p>There are four games left to play still in these friendlies, and I wouldn't be surprised to see his head coach sit him out as we get closer to the World Cup.</p>
<p><font color="white">.</font></p>
<h4>The World Cup:</h4>
<p>This hasn't started yet (duh, Aug 30th is the first game Australia players), but he will be facing off in the group stage against Slovenia, South Korea, Lithuania, Mexico, and Angola. The top four teams advance, and if they win enough, they advance.</p>
<ul>
<li>Game 1: August 30th -- vs. Slovenia</li>
<li>Game 2: August 31st -- vs. South Korea</li>
<li>Game 3: September 2nd -- vs. Lithuania</li>
<li>Game 4: September 3rd -- vs. Mexico</li>
<li>Game 5: September 4th -- vs. Angola</li>
</ul>
<p>If the top four teams advance that means, well, you gotta win at least 2 games, right? Minimum? I think we'll see more than just five games of Dante in Spain this year.</p>
<p><font color="white">.</font></p>
<h4>What are we seeing:</h4>
<p>The major take-away for me is that Dante is playing off-the-ball when he's out there on the court at least part of the time. This is how Australia is doing it, and with the Utah Jazz he is going to be expected to do the same when the ball is in the hands of one of the following guys (<b><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/burketr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com" target="_blank">Trey Burke</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/burksal01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com" target="_blank">Alec Burks</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/haywago01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com" target="_blank">Gordon Hayward</a></b>). In a way, this makes the transition easier for us (the viewers) and him (the player). What we see him do will help us understand if this ball sharing is going to work for him. And what he does within it will only help increase his versatility at the NBA level. It can work. We saw the Spurs (with <b><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/parketo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com" target="_blank">Tony Parker</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/ginobma01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com" target="_blank">Manu Ginobili</a></b>) and <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Thunder</a> (with Russell Westbrook and <b><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hardeja01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com" target="_blank">James Harden</a></b>) go to the finals with two guys sharing the ball.</p>
<p>If you look at the numbers, what Dante has done in fewer minutes against better competition with Australia has boosted up his full summer averages. Now in 10 total games he plays 23.41 mpg, and averages 7.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.00 spg, and 0.1 bpg. That's an okay 13.7 BARPS in less than half an NBA game. If you juice that up to 36 mpg you get:</p>
<ul>
<li>11.07 ppg</li>
<li>3.38 rpg</li>
<li>4.92 apg</li>
<li>1.54 spg</li>
<li>0.15 bpg</li>
</ul>
<p>That's not what Dante will average over the course of his first NBA season. And that's not his average now. But that is a good rate of production for a guy who isn't even old enough to buy alcohol in Quebec, Canada. (Okay, not true, but at times he does look like he's 16 yrs old still)</p>
<p>But by the numbers he is having a solid summer so far.</p>
<p>Off the numbers the understated thing that we aren't harping on is just how smart he is on defense. Right now we can't stop talking about his passing . . . but if we look beyond that it's his defense that is going to really help him stay on the floor for <span>Quin Snyder</span> this season.</p>
<p>So thanks to Chuck Lee. I was not trying to spread misinformation on purpose. Taking another look at ALL of the data helped me recognize just what Dante is and is not right now. But what he is, for reals, is the super rare case of a great athlete who is a combo guard, who is pass first. When did we ever have a pass first athlete before? Was it <b><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hardaan01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com" target="_blank">Penny Hardaway</a></b>? Do you remember what that guy was like in his prime?</p>
<p align="center"><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/T26g0HOmYdQ?rel=0"></iframe><br>Obviously the 6'7 Penny was more of a finisher, but the passing ability is what we're seeing right now from Dante.</p>
<p>Man. I am so happy we have at least 9 more games of him to watch before training camp starts.</p>
https://www.slcdunk.com/2014/8/15/6007167/fiba-world-cup-2014-dante-exum-utah-jazz-summer-time-additionsAllThatAmar2014-08-14T17:07:59-06:002014-08-14T17:07:59-06:00World Cup 2014: Dante's having a great summer
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UnMrkNLiS6fdKehZftAgC1ZN9lg=/0x120:2529x1806/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/36957942/176726856.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Stefan Postles</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>No really, you're going to read a lot about Dante Exum this year, for good reasons.</p> <p><b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/exumda01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Dante Exum</a></b> was a mystery, but before long we're going to be super saturated with information on the kid. From what <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Utah Jazz</a> fans have seen so far, from his commercials, interviews, and play on the court, we love him. The Jazz franchise seem to as well, as they did not hesitate to pick him #5 in the 2014 NBA Draft. ESPN's panel seems to have some love for him as well, as they recently gave him enough votes to be their 4th place player in the Rookie of the Year race. That's not bad for a kid that few people knew much about.</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4898786/ESPN_2014_Summer_Forecast_-_Rookie_of_the_Year_Dante_Exum_Race.PNG" target="_blank"><img alt="Espn_2014_summer_forecast_-_rookie_of_the_year_dante_exum_race" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4898786/ESPN_2014_Summer_Forecast_-_Rookie_of_the_Year_Dante_Exum_Race.PNG"></a> <br id="1408056703778"><br><b><a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11345215/2014-nba-summer-forecast-rookie-year">Check out the full "breakdown" from ESPN here.</a></b></p>
<p>I don't think that many people would argue about <span>Jabari Parker</span> or <span>Andrew Wiggins</span> taking the lion's share of the votes. <span>Nerlens Noel</span> is ready to make a big impact on a bad team as well. Exum is a distant fourth, but it's not a bad place to start.</p>
<p>If you remove the last T from that word you get star. And that's pretty much how Dante has been playing this summer. In the summer league he showed everyone his potential to be a celestial object. His first points were on a back door cut alley-oop in the half court, he made threes, passed extremely well, and even had game winning steals. While he didn't shoot too well, we all can see how he was picked Top 5.</p>
<p>His summer didn't end there, right now he's playing in warm up games with his national team, Australia, en route towards the FIBA World Cup 2014. The games are hard to find if you're not in front of a computer all day long. And he didn't dominate against a team that is from a basketball pipeline that they almost beat the Dream Team back in 1992. (Lithuania's basketball legacy is much larger than Australia's) But if you add up his performances together you get to see that he's doing pretty okay.</p>
<p><span>Dante Exum</span> has played in three games (vs. Ukraine, Lithuania, and Finland), and in those games he's averaging 20.61 mpg. During his time on the court he's averaging 9.67 ppg, 1.67 rpg, 3.00 apg (with a 3:1 assist to turn over ratio), and 0.33 spg. It's not as well rounded as we'd expect, but these games don't count and he's not playing but half the game. He is scoring well enough though. 50.0 fg%, 40.0 3pt%, 72.7 ft%, and 1.21 PPS (which is cumulative league average for the NBA over the last 30 years).</p>
<p>What the average stats don't tell is his ability to adjust his game against how he's playing within it -- that's a self assessment ability not a lot of younger players have. He couldn't buy a bucket against Lithuania, so he instead got to the line 8 times, making 7 of them. Against Finland he needed to take more threes, and he went 2/3 from outside there. And vs the Ukraine he dominated them, and because of his aggressive play on offense and defense he was able to elicit extra defensive pressure and was then able to find his guys for easy scores.</p>
<p>We're going to see more of him in 16 days when the World Cup starts. But for those of you who haven't seen enough of him yet, enjoy these vids:</p>
<p align="center"><u><b>Dante vs. Finland</b></u><br><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cnlG4SenxA8" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br><u><b>Dante vs. Lithuania</b></u><br><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/GSvFpoFvOys" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br><b><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/TheMrBlue/videos">Subscribe to Mr.Blue here!</a></b></p>
<p>Awesome. We love Dante. This season is going to be great!</p>
https://www.slcdunk.com/videos-podcasts/2014/8/14/6004037/fiba-world-cup-2014-utah-jazz-dante-exum-espn-australiaAllThatAmar2014-08-04T12:08:39-06:002014-08-04T12:08:39-06:00Video: NBA releases Dante Exum highlights
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qnY4LhGV8XYyhC-uNUkRThr58Qc=/10x0:4000x2660/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/36485724/451287624.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mike Stobe</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This was short and sweet, and leaves us frothing for the season</p> <p>The NBA released a pretty slick highlight video of rookie <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Utah Jazz</a> point guard <strong><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/exumda01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Dante Exum</a></strong>. We've seen these moves before, but watching it much closer and slower helps us identify just how talented and athletic this guy is.</p>
<p align="center"><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/W-k97kBzZAE" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br><b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWJ2lWNubArHWmf3FIHbfcQ">Subscribe to the NBA on YouTube here.</a></b></p>
<p>I'm particularly interested to see how well he can defend at the NBA level. It's been a very long time since the Utah Jazz had a great starter quality defender at the point guard spot. He does play the game a lot differently than <strong><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/willide01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com" target="_blank">Deron Williams</a></strong> or <strong><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/stockjo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com" target="_blank">John Stockton</a></strong> did. But the game has changed. It's perhaps time that our franchise has as well?</p>
https://www.slcdunk.com/videos-podcasts/2014/8/4/5967829/nba-rookie-dante-exum-utah-jazz-highlight-videoAllThatAmar2014-07-17T13:42:34-06:002014-07-17T13:42:34-06:00Summer League 2014: Nature or Nurture for Dante?
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WT1FkmKeYA6QbzQsXLE7RaBkSEs=/1343x108:3345x1443/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35738678/Dante_Exum_After_Party_03.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>RedBull</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I don't get paid to do any of this research</p> <p>Okay, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Utah Jazz</a> fans are pretty excited about <b><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/exumda01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com" target="_blank">Dante Exum</a></b>, the #5 pick of the 2014 NBA Draft. Sure, the sample sizes we have right now are pretty small compared to American players who are under the microscope much sooner; but there is a lot to like. As a biologist, I guess, by trade I am interested to see how much of his ability is nurture, and how much is nature. As a result we have to go back to the source, his father Cecil Exum, the University of North Carolina product who was pick #194th in the 1984 NBA Draft.</p>
<p>Cecil, yes, played on the same teams as <b><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jordami01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com" target="_blank">Michael Jordan</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/perkisa01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com" target="_blank">Sam Perkins</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/daughbr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com" target="_blank">Brad Daugherty</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/worthja01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com" target="_blank">James Worthy</a></b>, and was coached by Dean Smith. He wasn't an actual NBA player though, which sucks. What doesn't suck is that the internet exists, and we can research things. Exum Sr. played for a number of years internationally. I tracked down the teams he played for and got their stats. (Heck, you have no idea what it's like running Google Translate on Australian!)</p>
<h4>So, here are his numbers:</h4>
<p>At North Carolina he played four years, and wasn't exactly their main weapon. There is no data for how many minutes he played, or blocks. Nor do we have any record of turn overs for his first season.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4773404/Cecil_Exum_NCAA_Career_Stats.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Cecil_exum_ncaa_career_stats" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/assets/4773404/Cecil_Exum_NCAA_Career_Stats.png"></a> <br id="1405625460355"></p>
<p>Yes, he was on some good teams, great even. But he wasn't a big part of them. As a small forward he didn't pass much, but he did some work on the glass. In his senior year he was still an afterthought on offense. He did start to finally make those free throws though!</p>
<p>After college he was drafted in that '84 draft. But in the 9th round to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Denver Nuggets</a>. He didn't make the team, but eventually made it over to Australia. (I am imagining by lying flat on some drift wood or something like we see in biology textbooks that talk about previous theories of how animals migrated to Australia). There he bounced around a bit too, but found a home in Greelong.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4773420/Cecil_Exum_NBL_Career_Stats.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Cecil_exum_nbl_career_stats" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4773420/Cecil_Exum_NBL_Career_Stats.png"></a> <br id="1405625642591"></p>
<p>I'm just going to assume the Greelong Supercats are like the Seattle Supersonics. So he was basically the <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/schrede01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Detlef Schrempf</a></b> of those teams. Shut up.</p>
<p>He had some amazing years with Greelong after his first few seasons playing amongst the teams from Melbourne. I wish I had footage of those times, because they would be fun to see. His son <span>Dante Exum</span> appears to have much better court vision, though.</p>
<p>To need the genes to really excel, and Dante has that. And you need the drive, which comes from nurture, I guess. His dad was super competitive and we see that in Dante as well. And like most second generation players, he appears to be benefitting from both the nature and nuture here.</p>
<p>So, thanks Cecil for helping make our future star player! I will buy you a drink or something if our paths ever cross.</p>
https://www.slcdunk.com/2014/7/17/5913343/nba-summer-league-2014-dante-exum-utah-jazz-cecil-exum-north-carolina-tar-heelsAllThatAmar2014-07-07T18:59:05-06:002014-07-07T18:59:05-06:00NBA History: How do star PGs get their start?
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9uvL5axb4VhsicVQb2a_9BPGCrQ=/8x0:3992x2656/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35314022/451287624.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mike Stobe</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The point guard position in the NBA is filled with stars. If the Jazz want Dante Exum to be one, how will he get there?</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Utah Jazz</a> were overjoyed when <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/exumda01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Dante Exum</a></b> fell to them at #5 during the 2014 NBA Draft. By many full-time NBA Draft analysts he is projected to be one of the few players in this class with star potential. That's not just me saying that, but people like Chad Ford and other people who have watched hours and hours more of basketball than I have. I like to think <span>Dante Exum</span> could be a star. The Utah Jazz are currently bereft of one. And the pathway to stardom for a Top 5 lottery pick seems to be pretty well laid out:</p>
<ul>
<li>Get drafted high</li>
<li>Get drafted by a team that has immediate space for you (little competition at your primary position)</li>
<li>Play a lot of risk free minutes</li>
<li>Play your game</li>
<li>Accumulate stats</li>
<li>Get invited to All-Star Weekend and participate in the Rookie / Soph Rising Stars game</li>
<li>Perform well there under bright lights</li>
<li>Continue building up your national fan base (including being on ESPN, TNT)</li>
<li>Make some national ads</li>
<li>Be featured by the NBA in their ads</li>
<li>Continue playing your game</li>
<li>Hopefully win Rookie of the Year</li>
</ul>
<p>From the ROY award you get more recognition from the fans, and more respect from the refs. That makes it easier to excel on the court. Of course, you have to keep working on your game, playing your game, and playing well. But if you meet most of those bullet-ed conditions you are well on your way to being a star. There are a lot of star point guards who have done just that in recent years. <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/cartemi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Michael Carter-Williams</a></b>, <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lillada01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Damian Lillard</a></b>, <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/walljo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">John Wall</a></b>, <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/curryst01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Stephen Curry</a></b>, and <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/i/irvinky01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Kyrie Irving</a></b> are recent examples of people who have crossed off a lot of the above things from their rookie season lists.</p>
<p>Not every star point guard has the same path to the NBA. And not all star point guards have the same path to stardom. But it's hard to argue against the general principal of "get drafted to a team that can and will play you a lot of minutes, play your game, and be visible."</p>
<p>The other aspect of stardom, the one that we assume now, is that if you are a star you deserve to be one based upon on court production. This is why, for all the love we have for them, we cannot call <span>Derrick Favors</span> or <span>Gordon Hayward</span> stars right now. As the Uncharted series of video games / user controlled movies tells us, "...<u><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuoQ-WsVPO0">greatness from small beginnings</a></u>." So let's look at ALL the players 6'6 and under who had rookies seasons between 1999 and today, and managed to average 4.5 apg.<u><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=single&type=totals&per_minute_base=36&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=N&year_min=2000&year_max=&franch_id=&season_start=1&season_end=1&age_min=0&age_max=99&height_min=0&height_max=78&shoot_hand=&birth_country_is=Y&birth_country=&is_active=&is_hof=&is_as=&as_comp=gt&as_val=&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_gf=Y&pos_is_f=Y&pos_is_fg=Y&pos_is_fc=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_cf=Y&qual=&c1stat=ast_per_g&c1comp=gt&c1val=4.5&c2stat=&c2comp=gt&c2val=&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&c5stat=&c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=mp_per_g"> It's a 26 player list in full</a></u>, and only one non-point guard, <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wadedw01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Dwyane Wade</a></b>, made it.</p>
<p>We don't need him in this experiment, so we can remove him and be left with a 25 point guard list. And what a list it is:</p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="472">
<colgroup>
<col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 768; width: 16pt;" width="21"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 5814; width: 119pt;" width="159"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1316; width: 27pt;" width="36"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1280; width: 26pt;" span="2" width="35"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 402; width: 8pt;" width="11"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1170; width: 24pt;" span="2" width="32"> <col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 402; width: 8pt;" width="11"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1316; width: 27pt;" width="36"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 16pt;" align="center" height="20" width="21"><b></b></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 119pt;" align="center" width="159"><b>Rookie Point Guard</b></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 27pt;" align="center" width="36"><b>Tm</b></td>
<td colspan="2" class="xl65" style="width: 52pt;" align="center" width="70"><b>Season</b></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 8pt;" align="center" width="11"><b></b></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 24pt;" align="center" width="32"><b>GS</b></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 24pt;" align="center" width="32"><b>G</b></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 48pt;" align="center" width="64"><b>S%</b></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 8pt;" align="center" width="11"><b></b></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 27pt;" align="center" width="36"><b>MPG</b></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">1</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Damian Lillard</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">POR</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2012</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2013</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">82</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">82</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">100.0%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #63BE7B; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">38.6</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">2</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>John Wall</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">WAS</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2010</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2011</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">64</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">69</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">92.8%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #77C47D; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">37.8</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">3</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Tyreke Evans</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">SAC</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2009</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2010</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">72</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">72</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">100.0%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #86C87D; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">37.2</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">4</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Derrick Rose</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">CHI</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2008</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2009</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">80</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">81</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">98.8%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #8BCA7E; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">37.0</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">5</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Stephen Curry</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">GSW</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2009</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2010</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">77</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">80</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">96.3%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #9FD07F; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">36.2</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">6</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Steve Francis</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">HOU</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">1999</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2000</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">77</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">77</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">100.0%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #A1D07F; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">36.1</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">7</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Chris Paul</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">NOH</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2005</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2006</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">78</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">78</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">100.0%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #A4D17F; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">36.0</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">8</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Kirk Hinrich</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">CHI</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2003</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2004</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">66</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">76</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">86.8%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #AED480; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">35.6</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">9</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Michael Carter-Williams</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">PHI</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2013</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2013</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">70</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">70</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">100.0%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #C9DC81; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">34.5</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">10</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Ricky Rubio</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">MIN</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2011</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2012</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">31</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">41</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">75.6%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #D0DE82; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">34.2</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">11</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Brandon Jennings</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">MIL</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2009</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2010</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">82</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">82</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">100.0%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #F8E984; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">32.6</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">12</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Russell Westbrook</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">OKC</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2008</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2009</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">65</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">82</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">79.3%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #FBEA84; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">32.5</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">13</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Trey Burke</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">UTA</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2013</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2014</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">68</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">70</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">97.1%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #FFEB84; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">32.3</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">14</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Mario Chalmers</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">MIA</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2008</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2009</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">82</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">82</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">100.0%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #FEE683; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">32.0</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">15</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Kyrie Irving</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">CLE</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2011</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2012</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">51</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">51</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">100.0%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #FDD17F; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">30.5</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">16</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Jamaal Tinsley</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">IND</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2001</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2002</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">78</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">80</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">97.5%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #FDD17F; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">30.5</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">17</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Raymond Felton</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">CHA</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2005</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2006</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">54</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">80</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">67.5%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #FDCB7D; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">30.1</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">18</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Darren Collison</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">NOH</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2009</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2010</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">37</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">76</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">48.7%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #FBAA77; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">27.8</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">19</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>T.J. Ford</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">MIL</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2003</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2004</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">55</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">55</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">100.0%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #FA9C74; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">26.8</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">20</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Chris Duhon</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">CHI</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2004</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2005</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">73</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">82</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">89.0%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #FA9874; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">26.5</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">21</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Ramon Sessions</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">MIL</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2007</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2008</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">7</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">17</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">41.2%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #FA9874; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">26.5</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">22</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">Jay Williams</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">CHI</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2002</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2003</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">54</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">75</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">72.0%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #FA9272; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">26.1</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">23</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Andre Miller</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">CLE</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">1999</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2000</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">36</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">82</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">43.9%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #F98971; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">25.5</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">24</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Anthony Carter</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">MIA</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">1999</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2000</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">30</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">79</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">38.0%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #F86D6B; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">23.5</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20">25</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><span>Jose Calderon</span></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">TOR</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2005</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">2006</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">11</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center">64</td>
<td class="xl64" align="center">17.2%</td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl63" style="background: #F8696B; mso-pattern: black none;" align="center">23.2</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><b>Average</b></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><b></b></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><b></b></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><b></b></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><b></b></td>
<td class="xl63" align="center"><b>59.2</b></td>
<td class="xl63" align="center"><b>71.3</b></td>
<td class="xl64" align="center"><b>83.0%</b></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><b></b></td>
<td class="xl63" align="center"><b>31.6</b></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p>Yeah. Some of these guys were in great situations. I don't think Dante, on a team with both <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/burketr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Trey Burke</a></b> and <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/burksal01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Alec Burks</a></b>, is. In fact, only one of these guys went to a team where another dude, better than him at PG, was already starting -- and that is <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/collida01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Darren Collison</a></b>. You could argue that another was <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/caldejo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Jose Calderon</a></b>, but I don't know if <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/f/fordtj01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">T.J. Ford</a></b> is considered a star or not. Beyond those two, everyone else went to a team that was smart enough to a) play them big minutes, and b) not eff it up by playing them few minutes or starting them at SG or some other humbling maneuver that seems to backfire every single time.</p>
<p>The average for these 25 players is 31.6 mpg as a rookie. Obviously that's skewed a bit, thanks Lillard.</p>
<p>I don't think it will be easy to get Dante on the floor that much. I don't want him to be below average though, but it's obvious that he shouldn't be starting. (Unless he's a lot better right now than I think he is.) The Standard Deviation for this group's MPG is +/- 4.7 MPG. So that's a real range of 26.8 MPG to 36.3 MPG. I think this is a reasonable range to make sure that your player is on the right track, and provided he is healthy, getting enough minutes and getting on Sports Center enough.</p>
<p>If you eyeball it, the range I would really want him to be in is between 28.0 mpg (Collison) and 32.5 mpg (Trey Burke / <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/westbru01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com">Russell Westbrook</a></b> ). I think if he gets on the floor around the upper level of that range then we'll all be very happy.</p>
<p>"But minutes =/= development!"<br>"But minutes don't make bad players into stars!"</p>
<p>Yeah, I know. There's a whole podcast you can listen to almost every morning if you want to be 'educated' down that path. Players themselves say that getting on the floor is what helps your games the most. And this isn't about purely being better. This is about being a star. And as we've seen, as a point guard being a star is about getting a lot of minutes on bad teams early in your career, and getting your numbers.</p>
<p>Dante isn't going to be a star playing 20 MPG watching <span>John Lucas III</span> get the ball in his hands.</p>
<p>And the Jazz won't get their star if they stifle Dante Exum. Make the 25 win season and four years of <span>Tyrone Corbin</span> worth it -- play Dante sufficient minutes to help his development and assist in his rise to stardom. It will be worth it. Some people think individual awards don't matter. They do in the NBA, because if you win them the refs look the other way on iffy plays, and the league goes out of their way to help you and make your life easier / more comfortable.</p>
<p>It's a league of name and face recognition. If we have a very bright star, the NBA can't pretend we don't exist. And the first real step to getting that star is to play him. For me, I would be happy if he averages 31ish MPG in his rookie year. Trey Burke averaged 32.3 MPG last season. But he didn't have any competition for playing time. Dante, unfortunately, went to a team where that will be his first real challenge to stardom.</p>
https://www.slcdunk.com/research-statistics-analytics/2014/7/7/5879111/utah-jazz-dante-exum-damian-lillard-john-wall-tyreke-evans-derrick-rose-stephen-curryAllThatAmar