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Utah Jazz’s Dante Exum had surgery to repair his knee injury

Utah Jazz's Dante Exum (11), from Australia, and Cleveland Cavaliers' Alec Burks (10) battle for a loose ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 4, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Jazz reserve point guard Dante Exum underwent surgery in Los Angeles on Wednesday to repair the partially torn patellar tendon in his right knee, the team announced Thursday.

The procedure, which was performed by noted surgeon Neal ElAttrache, was deemed successful. The guard will remain out of action indefinitely, and will presumably miss the remainder of the season. The Jazz said Exum will begin the rehab process as soon as possible.

The former lottery pick was averaging 6.9 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.6 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per game this season, though it has frustratingly proven to be another one beset by injuries, which have limited him to only 42 games played.

He suffered a sprained ankle on Jan. 5 in Detroit — which subsequently also yielded a bone bruise — and wound up missing more than two months. Then, in just his third game back, he checked out of the team’s March 14 contest vs. Minnesota after playing only 3 minutes, having apparently injured his right knee.

The torn patellar tendon was subsequently diagnosed, and Exum has been out ever since.