By Cesare Milanti/ info@eurohoops.net
After days in critical condition in intensive care at a hospital due to lung problems, Cecil Exum passed away at 60. The father of Dante Exum fought until the end, but the news broke on July 3, as condolences were sent from the basketball world to the Exum family.
Former 10-year professional basketball player, Cecil Exum came out of North Carolina University in 1984, winning the 1982 NCAA championship alongside Michael Jordan and James Worthy before being selected by the Denver Nuggets with the No.194 overall pick.
Due to a serious knee injury, he never played in the NBA and decided to move his talents to Australia, joining the Bulleen Boomers to be named into the All-SEABL Team. In 1989, he won the NBL with the North Melbourne Giants, and later on, he joined the Melbourne Tigers and the Geelong Supercats, where he retired in 1996 after four years with the team.
In 197 overall NBL games, he had 10.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. During his time with the Geelong Supercats, his son Dante was born, in 1995. Cecil Exum was seen among the crowd of the Stark Arena several times as his son played EuroLeague games for Partizan Belgrade before moving back to the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks.
PHOTO CREDIT: Partizan Belgrade