Australian star Dante Exum has wasted no time in making a strong impression as a Dallas Mavericks player in their pre-season clash against Real Madrid.
Exum, who last played in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021, moved to the Mavs in July from Serbian team Partizan.
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In his first pre-season game for his new team, Exum logged 26 minutes of court time — the most among Dallas’ players — and posted an impressive stat line of 13 points, nine assists and two rebounds in a 127-123 loss.
However, the moment that made basketball fans sit up and take notice was his insane swat to deny Real Madrid small forward Dzanan Musa.
As the Bosnian drove towards the hoop, Exum flew up and denied Musa at the rim with a stunning block.
The Aussie’s play even had the Mavs bench standing up in appreciation of his efforts.
Although it may be pre-season, Exum showed plenty of promise against Real Madrid as he staked his claim to be heavily involved this season.
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The fact he played the most minutes of all Dallas players is also an encouraging sign from head coach Jason Kidd that Exum will have a role to play.
Mavs fans certainly shared the same sentiment.
Exum isn’t the only Australian on the Mavs roster, with Josh Green also seeing some pre-season action against the Spanish side.
Green scored nine points and had three rebounds and assists from his 18 minutes on court.
Whether Green and Exum share plenty of game time together during the NBA season remains to be seen, but it would be some sight to behold.
NBL SIDE BLOWN AWAY IN NBA REALITY CHECK
Two years ago the Adelaide 36ers set a new standard for NBL teams by toppling the Oklahoma City Thunder in a stunning pre-season result when Josh Giddey was playing for the Australian outfit.
But any hopes the Cairns Taipans had of emulating that feat in their clash with the Washington Wizards on Wednesday were blown away in a 44-point first quarter demolition by the NBA outfit that ended in a humbling 145-82 defeat.
The Taipans were down by as many as 65 points in the final quarter as the Wizards went to their bench, using 16 players to inflict maximum damage on their well-beaten opponents.
Despite being three games into their regular season in the NBL, the Taipans were no match for Kyle Kuzma and the Wizards who were playing their opening match of the NBA pre-season in Washington.
The opening gambit from the home side was just the start of what was to come, with a 21-point quarter-time lead, 36 at halftime, then a mammoth 48 points at the final change as the Wizards put on a show of talent and strength.
Even with Kuzma given a rest last in the game, after powering his way to 22 points, which allowed last year’s NBL MVP Xavier Cooks, now with the Wizards, to get court time, there was little respite for the Taipans.
For the Taipans, who only had nine players after Sam Waardenburg and Sam Mennenga were made unavailable due to illness, Akoldah Gak was the leading scorer with 17 points, with Patrick Miller next best with 15.
It’s the fifth time in seven years that NBL teams will participate in the NBA pre-season, with the Taipans coming off a controversial 89-86 win over the Brisbane Bullets last weekend.
The Taipans will be looking to deliver something better when they play their second game of the US tour against the Toronto Raptors.