By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Strengthening the squad, Partizan NIS added Dante Exum, the team announced Sunday to confirm an earlier report on a deal between the two sides.
Exum, 26, spent most of the previous season at FC Barcelona. After being selected with the 5th overall pick of the 2014 NBA draft and making his way to 262 NBA games between the Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers, he used the overseas option and joined the Catalonia giant in December. Heading to the 2022-23 season, he moved to Partizan to stay in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
Introducing himself to the highest level of club continental competition in Europe, he produced 6.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per contest. He appeared in 25 games for Barca, including ten starts under Lithuanian tactician Sarunas Jasikevicius.
Domestically, Exum averaged 9.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game in Spain’s Liga Endesa as his side was the runner-up in the Playoffs behind archrival Real Madrid. Earlier in the 2021-22 season, he helped in winning the 2022 edition of Copa del Rey.
At the international level, he has been representing Australia in major FIBA tournaments since his senior debut in 2013. Last summer, he was a key part of the squad capturing the 2020 Olympic Games bronze medals in Tokyo.
Legendary Serbian head coach Zeljko Obradovic is at the helm of the Belgrade outfit. Partizan is set to return to EuroLeague after a nine-year break. Opening summer additions, Danilo Andjusic inked a two-year contract to return to Partizan.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net