Dante Exum has turned himself into a solid defender

Dennis Lindsey apparently told Dante Exum something a few years ago that changed Exum’s life for the better.

“I remember when I first came in the league, Dennis Lindsey, who is actually with the Mavs now, he said to me, you’re a horrible defender,” Exum said on Friday. “So, I took that to heart and that’s something I wanted to focus on.

“I want to be the guy that if you walk on the court and there’s a guy that’s dominant offensively, I want to be the guy (who says), ‘I will take him.’ “

At the time of that conversation between Exum and Lindsey, Exum was playing for Utah, and Lindsey was the general manager for the Jazz. It was in that role that Lindsey made Exum the No. 5 overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft.

Nowadays, Lindsey is in an advisory role with the Mavericks, while Exum signed a free agent contract with the Mavs this past summer. The 6-5, 214-pound guard played for the Jazz from ’14-’19, and for the Cleveland Cavaliers from ’19-21 before spending the past two seasons playing in Europe.

Defense, meanwhile, has become the main ingredient in Exum’s game. So much so that he details a 2018 playoff series where he more than held his own against then-Houston Rockets All-Star guard James Harden.

“I like the challenge,” Exum said. “I think for me I’ve never back down from a challenge. “Whether it’s something I wasn’t good at and I wanted to challenge myself to be good at, I think that was something with my defending.

“That’s why when I was playing in that series against James Harden, I think I was able to stop him — just to have the confidence to move my feet and play a bit harder.”

More than anything, Exum, 28, was very anxious to come back and show that he belongs in the NBA.

“I think for me it’s been a long journey,” Exum said. “Obviously, being in the NBA before and having kind of dealt with a lot of injuries, I felt like I’ve had the skills to be here. But proving my being healthy has kind of been the problem.

“But I think going over to Europe and spending the last two seasons there helped me tremendously learning their game and how they play and just kind of the importance of valuing possessions. I’m glad I was able to kind of fight my way back here, but I think it’s just staying the course, staying healthy and making sure every day I’m working on my game and in the areas that haven’t been a strong suit and making that a strong suit now.”

Exum offered his analysis on why he chose to sign with the Mavs in free agency.

“There were a few teams that were interested,” he said. “But I think the Mavs provided a unique opportunity. I think, definitely, the point guard where I’m trying to play, obviously them having Kyrie (Irving) and Luka (Doncic), it’s a lot of minutes taking up.

“But I think where my strong suits are in kind of pushing the ball and being fast, (being an) oversized point guard is going to help me. So, I think that’s kind of why I like the Mavs, too.”

Obviously, with the Mavs’ training camp just four days old, is way too early for Exum to have been locked into a significant role. However, he already knows what he can offer this team.

“For me I’ve always tried to be an energy guy,” Exum said. “I want to bring that energy when I come in. I like to push the ball, play fast. I know the coaches talked about that a bit this year — playing a bit faster, open court transition. That’s what I’m going to try and excel the most.”

Exum added that his shooting has improved significantly over the past two years.

“Obviously, going over to Europe provided me the opportunity just to be confident with it and shoot it, and that what I did, and now I shoot better,” he said. “I think my spot shot is the best it’s ever been at a point in my career. So, I think that’s. . .whether it’s playing on-ball, pushing the ball or having to play off it and be ready to shoot, that’s what I’m going to be able to do.

“I think the biggest thing for me is just being confident. I always say if I miss my first one, I’ll make the second one. If I miss the second, I’ll make the third one. So that’s just kind of the mindset I’ve had with my shooting. I’ve felt like I’ve always had a good form and just wasn’t confident. It was like, ‘Do I shoot it, do I not?’ “

With the Mavs, Exum also acknowledged that playing alongside his fellow Australian – Mavs fourth-year guard Josh Green – is a blessing. Both players are also teammates on the Australian national team that played in the World Cup this past summer.

“I know he battled a bit of an ankle injury (this summer) coming in, but as soon as he kind of stepped onto the floor it changed us dramatically,” Exum said. “He was picking up full court — just a dog on the ball. I think going forward with the Australian team, that’s just something that we’re going to realize that.

“When I was watching him on the Mavs and then the Australian team, what he was able to bring for us for the national team, and then even just these couple of days that we’ve been in training camp just how he conducts himself and the steps that he takes to be professional and be the guy that he is on court, it’s amazing to see.”

Green said “it’s really cool” to have Exum as a teammate with the Mavs.

“It’s cool because there’s 10 NBA guys who are Australian, and usually when you part ways with your Australian team or your international team, you go your separate way.

“But it’s cool to be able to maintain that with Dante. He’s a great guy, a great basketball player He did an amazing job last year, he had an amazing World Cup and I’m looking forward to playing with him.”

In the meantime, Exum is looking forward to fitting in where he can get in with the Mavs. More importantly, he’s delighted to be back in the NBA.

“I feel like the European game is a lot physical,” Exum said. “I’m going to gauge it as soon as I get on the court here and see how physical I can be.

“I know a lot of the players are very smart in how they draw foul. So, it’s something I’ve got to be very careful about.”

X: @DwainPrice