Image Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Dante Exum Injury Update: Dallas Mavericks Guard to Undergo Season-Ending Surgery

Exum didn't play any game this season.

Image Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The Dallas Mavericks, who were already finding it difficult to survive the ongoing NBA season, received another blow in the form of Dante Exum’s injury. The Mavs guard will require to undergo another surgical procedure on his right knee following complications from an offseason procedure. It will bring an end to Exum’s season early without him even getting a single game or practice under his belt. Notably, the 30-year-old missed the entire training camp as well as all the regular season games so far with “right knee injury management.”

Exum, who joined the Mavericks in 2023, signed a one-year deal worth $3.3 million with the franchise this offseason. While former GM Nico Harrison was hoping it to be a successful stint, it turned into an all-out disaster. However, it is to be noted that Harrison was aware of Exum’s injury history while re-signing him. In his previous seasons, Exum had played only 75 games for the team owing to his injuries, but the team got him back for a third season, which eventually turned out to be one of the most pivotal seasons in the franchise’s history.

Dante Exum’s Tenure with the Dallas Mavericks

While not required, it was never publicly disclosed that Danté Exum had offseason knee surgery.

It was only mentioned early this season that the Dallas Mavericks were taking a "long-term approach" to an unspecified knee injury.

This was the most we saw Exum do recently. https://t.co/geMX1UQOlv pic.twitter.com/Jwmr7aBlfI
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) November 20, 2025

Dante Exum, in his two seasons with the Mavs, averaged 8.0 points and 2.8 assists in 75 games. Despite having a career marred by injuries, he was signed by the Mavericks this summer considering that the franchise was finding a replacement for Kyrie Irving. Hence, the team decided to sign D’Angelo Russell and re-sign Exum. Needless to say, it was an extremely bold move by the former GM, and even though he is gone, the franchise is still facing the repercussions of some of his moves.

Resigning Exum didn’t help Mavs at all, considering he wasn’t available even for one game this season. To get out of it, the franchise could waive Exum and bring in another point guard to help them survive until Irving returns next year. However, they wouldn’t be able to do so considering they are hard capped at the second apron of the salary cap. It is to be seen how the Mavericks get themselves out of this situation that Harrison threw them into.

Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.