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Physically, Dante Exum looks significantly different than he did at this time last season.
As a result of seven months in the weight room, Utah's point guard looks more equipped than ever to drive the lane and take contact on his way to the basket. Nothing is official, of course, but he looks like he's grown a bit past the 6-foot-6 mark. And if it weren't for his baby face, or the slight hint of acne, you'd almost forget Exum is 20 years of age and won't legally be able to purchase a drink until July.
All that youth, yet Exum is rounding into a veteran off the floor. A torn ACL, a surgery and a year of adversity and frustration can make someone mature quickly. On Thursday, Jazz players cleaned out their lockers and expressed the disappointment of not making the postseason. But for Exum, the premature end to Utah's year represents a distant light on the horizon.
Utah's 2014 lottery pick is on his way back. That makes him more antsy than ever.
"I'm ready to take the next step, because it's been a long process," Exum said. "I'm seven and a half months post-surgery and I'm fully cleared to do everything except full contact. At the start of the process, I was told that everything was going to be slow. So I'm anxious to get going."
That means Exum can sprint and do real basketball drills again. He is close to being able to cut on his surgically repaired knee and move laterally. That means Exum is close to being ready to actually test the knee.
His lost season has been a mixture of strength work, ballhandling and working endlessly on his shot. He's been back and forth to Los Angeles, visiting with his surgeon. As he nears the end of the process, Exum feels like the wait will be worth it.
For months, Exum has watched people like Paul George, who missed almost an entire season with a broken leg. He saw how George bounced back this year with a more advanced game and can envision himself coming back with a more mature skill set. Exum is confident that he will regain the speed and athleticism that made him such a unique prospect initially. And his feel for the game will return with repetition. Exum knows this.
"I really missed the game," Exum said. "I've learned a lot, just being able to step away from the court, just getting that passion back, just wanting to play. There are little moments that you can tell how much you miss the game. It's just been a long process."
How much longer is the question. Exum said he probably won't play with the Utah Jazz in July's summer league, either in Salt Lake City or down in Las Vegas. But he certainly wants to play with Australia in the Olympics.
Whether or not the Jazz allow that to happen is another story. There are certainly pros and cons. The fear of re-injury has to be there, especially since Exum initially suffered the torn ACL playing with the Boomers last summer.
At the same time, it can be an advantage for the Jazz if Exum plays in the Olympics, eliminating the rust from his game and returning to training camp in October ready to hit the ground running. And the Jazz know they can't wrap Exum in proverbial plastic.
Those decisions once seemed far away, but now they are closer. And those decisions can shape his development for years to come. It makes sense that the Jazz are cautious with him. They see him as a potential star, and they essentially treaded water at the position while he was hurt, only making a move for Shelvin Mack at the trade deadline.
Because of those factors, they want him good and healthy, and wish to keep him that way.
"His checkups have been very positive," Utah general manager Dennis Lindsey said. "We anticipate him taking contact in early June, and he's so far on schedule. We'll have the Olympic conversation, and we'll make a decision."
Twitter: @tjonessltrib —
Dante Exum update
P Tore his ACL in July 2015, a few weeks after spraining his ankle in summer league
• Missed the entire season due to the injury. He's cleared to return to full contact in June. He was Utah's first-round pick in 2014
• Took over the starting point guard spot in January 2015, helping the Jazz to a win over the Milwaukee Bucks