The Dallas Mavericks announced Thursday that guard Dante Exum will miss the entire 2025-26 season because a complication in his right knee requires another operation.
Exum, 30, re-signed with Dallas during the offseason on a one-year, $3.3 million contract but never received medical clearance to practice after undergoing knee surgery in the summer. Further evaluation this week determined a second procedure is necessary, ending his campaign before it began.
The Australian guard averaged 8.0 points and 2.8 assists across 75 appearances for the Mavericks over the previous two seasons. Injuries have repeatedly interrupted his NBA career, which began as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2014 draft.
Dallas would have to waive Exum to open a roster spot, yet league rules tied to the second apron of the salary cap prevent the club from adding another player until Jan. 6, according to ESPN front-office insider Bobby Marks.
Source: ESPN
