Utah Jazz have been impressed by Dante Exum for some time

The Utah Jazz were impressed by guard Dante Exum long before the draft process began and they selected him with the fifth-overall pick in this summer’s draft

More from NBA

As the draft process ramped up, Australian point guard Dante Exum became one of the most interesting prospects in the 2014 NBA Draft. Lauded for his performance against Andrew Wiggins at the Nike Hoops Summit, he flew up the draft boards. Eventually, the Utah Jazz selected Dante Exum with the fifth-overall pick.

The Jazz have liked what they have seen from Exum since the Hoop Summit.

“Really, it was my first exposure, and it allowed me to go back and take a deeper look,” said Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey via Aaron Falk of The Salt Lake Tribune. “At the Hoop Summit, he played more of a two-guard or a wing spot. Really, coming out of that week, I didn’t know that he was the passer he is. It took some more research to realize that he had very good vision for an 18-year-old. But we were impressed by his length, his speed and maybe even most importantly, his makeup.”

New Jazz head coach Kirk Snyder also recalls being impressed by Dante Exum in the past.

“A year ago, I was in the airport, and [a game] was on in a little airport cafe. I looked up, and he was playing against Serbia,” Snyder recalled. “I was like, ‘That guy’s fast.’ ”

Dante Exum made his NBA debut in a 92-73 preseason loss to the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday. He scored four points on one-of-five shooting from the field and two-of-two shooting from the free throw line while grabbing three rebounds, dishing out two assists, blocking a shot and recording a steal.

More from FanSided

Add us as a preferred source on Google