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SALT LAKE CITY — For the first time in the 2017-18 season, you can pencil in Dante Exum's name into the Jazz's rotation.
"I'm excited to finally get out there tonight," Exum said. "Join the guys in this successful season they've been having and fit right in."
Now, what does that mean?
The media spoke to Exum Thursday morning after participating in shootaround for the first time this season before a game. And while it's clear everyone is excited to have Exum back after a separated shoulder has forced him to miss the entire regular season so far, both his coach and the player wanted to show that Exum's return will color within the lines established by the Jazz's 19-2 run.
"I'm definitely just trying to bring a defensive mindset," Exum said. "Come out and be a floor leader and take care of what I can take care of."
Exum will likely initially take on the role that Raul Neto had until his wrist injury, that of backup point guard. How much Exum plays beyond that depends largely on how much he fits into the Jazz's league-leading defense in 2018. If he rotates, stunts, and stays in front of his man, he can be a huge asset using his length.
And then from there, the offense can come from the defense.
"His ability to defend, rebound, and then push the ball, he can do very well," Jazz head coach Quin Snyder noted. Exum's conditioning has sometimes been in question during his career, and Snyder noted that fatigue can be an issue for any player coming off of a long layoff, like Exum.
The good news is that there is significant potential from Exum, potential he had begun to display in his time in summer league and preseason this season. He scored 20 points per contest in the three Utah Jazz Summer League games and showed off bursts of speed against the Sydney Kings and Maccabi Haifa in preseason. Now, he'll have the chance to do it against the team he was injured against, the Phoenix Suns.
"He was attacking the rim and he was making good decisions," Snyder said. "He was shooting the ball more confidently." Snyder also noted that Exum could play the two-guard at times if need be, thanks to his defensive length and offensive skillset.
Exum has been heavily involved in the Jazz's film sessions for most of his rehab, staying mentally included in the group despite the frustration of sitting on the bench. And while the pressure is on Exum (with only 14 regular season games to show what he can do before hitting restricted free agency), mostly, he's just excited to show what he can do on the floor.
"It's been a long, slow road," Exum said. "Slow in the sense that we've done everything right so I can get to this point where I'm ready to play."
And now, finally, that day has come.
