Utah Jazz 2016-17 season review: Dante Exum

By Adam Coffman | Jun 10, 2017

Apr 12, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) dribbles the ball during the first half against the San Antonio Spurs at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Jazz won 101-97. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 11, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) drives to the basket in front of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Andre Roberson (21) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Mar 11, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) drives to the basket in front of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Andre Roberson (21) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Strengths

As a relatively unknown overseas player with little competitive experience, the main point of attraction for Exum as a draft prospect was his physical profile. Standing 6’6″ in shoes with a wingspan three inches greater than his height, he has a built-in advantage over other, usually smaller, point guards.

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He leverages this to penetrate the lane with the dribble and through off-ball cuts, shooting 55 percent at the rim, according to Basketball-Reference. Over 43 percent of his total field goal attempts come from within three feet of the hoop.

Exum isn’t a creative nor crafty ball-handler, mostly relying on a burst of speed and his long strides to take advantage of brief openings in the defense. This would behoove him in transition, if not for the slow-paced nature of the Jazz offense.

However, even if his ideal play style isn’t available within Utah’s culture, he can still adapt some principles of attacking on the go without being stuck in a half-court set.

You can see below that many of his baskets come not in transition per se, but in motion, operating off single blow-by moves designed to keep defenders on their heels.

Exum is also used effectively on defense. He doesn’t put up gaudy block or steal numbers just yet, but his long limbs and thick base allow him to contest shots and intrude into passing lanes when he’s locked in.

Much of the focus on switched pick-and-rolls is on the big man, who will be tasked with staying in front of a smaller and quicker guard, but Exum projects nicely as the other end of that equation, being just big enough to hold his own on the block until help can come or another switch made.