The summer and NBA offseason are typically seen as a period for players to rest and recover ahead of the grueling 82-game season. However, this hasn’t been the case for the Dallas Mavericks.
Superstar Luka Doncic has been struggling with multiple injuries throughout the offseason after Slovenia’s national team was knocked out of the Olympic qualifying tournament by Greece. It was clear that Doncic was still dealing with injuries sustained during the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Although it is expected that he will fully recover before training camp, there hasn’t been an official update on his condition since the Finals. Similarly, fellow star Kyrie Irving is recovering from a broken left hand suffered in an offseason workout in July. While Irving is expected to be ready by training camp, the last formal update on his status came in August.
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These injuries to the Mavericks’ top two players are concerning, but both are likely to be at full strength when camp begins.
Dante Exum’s situation is more uncertain. According to insider Marc Stein, Exum hasn’t yet been cleared for full basketball activities after dislocating his right index finger during the Olympics with Australia. Stein believes Exum could be ready for training camp, but that’s not guaranteed. Fortunately for Dallas, offseason acquisitions like Quentin Grimes and Spencer Dinwiddie have bolstered their guard rotation, providing more depth than last year. Third-year guard Jaden Hardy will also be competing for minutes, adding to what is arguably one of the most talented guard rotations the Mavericks have had.
Mavs training camp is right around the corner so we dialed up @TheSteinLine today on @DLLS_Mavs to provide an update on Dante Exum's return from injury, as the guard will be battling for playing time in a loaded backcourt!
Full show: https://t.co/4cBOk2V7yj #MFFL pic.twitter.com/MLbX1zS3FZ
— DLLS Mavs (@DLLS_Mavs) September 20, 2024
The injury could complicate Exum’s place in the rotation, as Dallas has several capable guards fighting for minutes. With Irving and Doncic taking up a large portion of guard time, it’s unlikely that head coach Jason Kidd will consistently play more than one of each type of guard (scoring-focused Hardy and Dinwiddie versus defensively minded Grimes and Exum) off the bench. Even if Exum is fully healthy, he may not play every night, so it’s crucial this injury doesn’t hinder his chances for the 2024-25 season. Given Kidd’s tendency to experiment early in the season, Exum might still have opportunities, though there’s a real possibility someone will be left out of the rotation.
