The Dallas Mavericks confirmed that guard Dante Exum will undergo season-ending knee surgery, NBA insider Shams Charania reported Thursday.
Exum, 30, re-signed with the Mavericks on a one-year deal this past September but did not appear in any games this season before the injury.
Last season, Exum played 18 games (12 starts), averaging 9.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while being sidelined in March due to a broken bone in his left hand.
The setback leaves Dallas, currently 4-12, without a veteran guard who provides defensive versatility and secondary playmaking alongside stars D’Angelo Russell and Klay Thompson.
Exum’s absence adds to a roster already struggling offensively and defensively.
The Mavericks have been hit by multiple setbacks this season, including injuries and inconsistent play, and losing Exum complicates both short-term rotations and long-term roster planning.
With the NBA trade deadline approaching, Dallas may explore additional options to bolster backcourt depth and support their core players while Exum recovers.
