2. Embraces the “next man up” mantra
Players do not last long on the Jazz bench if they do not embrace the “next man up” mentality preached by coach Quinn Snyder. It is this mentality that makes the Jazz so hard to play against. How do you coach against a team that will throw different scenarios at you each and every night?
Of the three seasons Exum has played, he has embodied this mantra, never openly complaining that one night he gets a start and the next night he might not play. To overcome this, Exum appears to have the mentality of simply playing hard every time he hits the court.
This is all a coach can ask from a player and it has endeared Exum to Jazz fans — when he hits the court, that is. Due to the amount of injuries Exum has had in his young career it is possible he plays every NBA minute like it is his last. For all the luck he has had, it might well be.
Dante Exum is not out there looking to make a name for himself. Yes, he would probably like regular playing time, but he is not a starter.
Exum goes out and if his team needs points, that is what he will try and give them. If the Jazz need rebounds or intense defense, that is what they get. It is these traits that remind me of Nate McMillan back when he played for the Seattle SuperSonics. Exum is going a long way toward being a great glue guy in the NBA.