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An Australian Perspective On Dante Exum And Joe Ingles

For a country that has the most league pass subscriptions outside of the US, Australia is deprived of live basketball action. It almost seems unjust that the NBA elects to move live games to England, Germany, Turkey, China and the Philippines just to name a few countries that have received the privilege of watching the best in the world play, while we find ourselves exempt. It’s difficult for us to keep tabs on Dante Exum and Joe Ingles.

After the Major League Baseball played games in Sydney, in front of 75,000 cumulatively over two days, it was thought this could open the pathway to see international sport in Australia. It’s seen major soccer teams from around the world move in, with Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid headlining the group, all world class teams.

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Whatever the reasons may be that the NBA has chosen not to host basketball in Australia, with the general consensus being travel time and time zones, it hasn’t taken away from the Australian love for the game.

Instead of drawing us further away, it’s brought us further in, with the hope that it one day may happen. However, now for the present, due to our patriotic nature we have grown closer to our Australians in the NBA.

We’ve had Andrew Bogut for a while, Patty Mills has been around the block, Cameron Bairstow is new, while Matthew Dellavedova and Aron Baynes have shown that they belong.

There’s two new faces on the block, and both start for the same team, our Utah Jazz.

Dante Exum, the current starting point guard for the Jazz receives the majority of the fanfare in the land down under. While it’s understandable that we’ll get excited over the fifth pick in the draft coming from our home nation, sometimes our local media takes the Exum coverage to strange levels. An article from Fox Sports suggesting the Bucks chose Jabari Parker over him due to his face sums up how weird the media coverage can be on Exum.

We all know that Exum’s impact is greater than 5 points, 2.5 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game suggests. However, in Australia, it’s been greater. The last time we had a top draft pick it was Andrew Bogut (and he was taken first!), the world hadn’t yet experienced the joy and connection social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook provide.

Dec 19, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) drives to the basket against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. Utah Jazz defeated the Orlando Magic 101-94. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

What Australians weren’t able to experience with Bogut, we’re now able to experience with Exum. Dante is now an inspiration to all the young basketball-playing Australians, who now have the privilege of extended basketball coverage, through NBA league pass, the internet and many other media platforms.

To a larger extent than any Australian before, a Dante Exum jersey seems to be commonplace.

The journey of Joe Ingles has been well-documented in Australia. Ingles started off his career by causing a stir, scoring 29 points on 11/15 shooting in an early season game against the New Zealand Breakers.

His 4 years with the now defunct South Dragons in the NBL, where he won the Rookie of the Year award as an 18-year old placed him on the Australian basketball map. His stints in Spain and Israel further cemented his status as an Australian basketball cult hero of sorts, which was cemented with a Euroleague championship.

Feb 3, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) drives past Portland Trail Blazers guard

Wesley Matthews

(2) during the first quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

While we’ll say we always knew Joe was going to strike it big with an NBA contract, there was an All-Star also courting Ingles to the big league. Marc Gasol, who played with Ingles during the NBA lockout angled for the Grizzilies to sign Joe, however the move never truly eventuated.

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We held out hope for Joe, with the idea in mind he’d find the most ideal situation yet.

And it all worked out in Utah.

While we still know that he’s that classic white guy with average athleticism, he’s thriving in a role that requires him to produce so much more. He’s a reluctant shooter, shooting the ball only 7 times per 36 minutes. While a Joe Ingles drinking game for every shot he takes is guaranteed to keep you sober, it’s the passing, ball handling and aggressive defense that’s allowed him to start 17 games, a feat no Australian thought was remotely possible.

While he’ll never be as good as Larry Legend, like a local Australian media outlet compared him to, he’s shown he at least deserves his place.

Down under, we’re excited for what the future holds for the current Jazz starting backcourt. Not only will we share in there success, it also means one more thing.

We could be that little bit closer to a coveted game on the world’s biggest island.