Dante Exum returns to Utah Jazz lineup for first time in 8 months vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

SALT LAKE CITY — It had been another long layoff for Dante Exum, who has missed more games due to injury than he’s played in during his five-year Jazz career.

This time he had been out for eight months rehabbing an injured right knee and he finally was able to play Monday night as the Jazz took on Minnesota.

Exum had suited up for the first time on Friday in Memphis without playing, but he checked into the game at the 3:16 mark of the first quarter to a nice ovation from the sold-out Vivint Arena crowd.

The 6-foot-5 guard from Australia ended up playing 14 minutes and had a nice steal that resulted in a dunk, his highlight of the night as he scored two points on 1-of-4 shooting and also came up with a blocked shot.

Exum wasn’t available for comment after the game as he got partially dressed then left the locker room for treatment, presumably on his knee.

His coach, Quin Snyder, talked about Exum and said he was pleased with his effort in his first game back.

“He did a good job. He was focused defensively,” Snyder said. “It was good to see him get out there. I’m sure there’s a lot going on in your mind when you’ve been out that long recovering from an injury. I thought he competed as much as anything and that is a success in and of itself.”

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Coincidentally, Exum’s last action on the court had come in a home game against Minnesota back on March 14 last season.

Coming into this season, Exum had played in less than half the possible 410 games in his first five seasons. Last year, he played in just 42 games, going out with an ankle injury in early January, returning for three games in mid-March, then being shut down for the season after sustaining a knee injury. 

He never touched the ball offensively in the first quarter, but came up with a big steal early in the second quarter. Exum was waiting as Robert Covington tried to make a pass near the midcourt line. Exum snatched the ball and went in for a decisive jam, his first points in more than 10 months. 

Then on the next T-Wolves’ possession, he blocked a shot by Jeff Teague, which led to a Jazz fast break and a 3-pointer by Donovan Mitchell at the other end.

The third quarter didn’t go as well as he drove to the rim three times and was rejected twice and missed the other time. He left the game at the 9:30 mark of the fourth quarter with his team up 86-80, but from there, the Jazz were outscored 32-16.

Exum had played all 82 games his rookie season in 2014-15 when he started 41 games. The following summer, he tore the ACL in his knee and missed the entire season. He played all but 16 games the following season, but only played 14 in 2017-18 after severely injuring his shoulder in a preseason game.