5) Dante Exum’s return
When Dante Exum injured his shoulder as a result of a preseason collision with Phoenix Suns forward TJ Warren, it almost didn’t seem real. Honestly, how many setbacks can one guy have within the first four years of his career?
In short order, the former No. 5 overall pick had become the new Grant Hill, sans the six years of brilliance before getting hurt. For Exum, it was just the bad parts — perpetual crashing and burning out of the gate.
With all that being the case, his eventual return from injury on March 15 against those same Suns was enough to get even the most stone-hearted Jazz fan to feel all the feels.
It would take him to awhile to get going, but Exum eventually got back to showing the world why he was a draft-night darling in 2014. With any luck, his ’17-18 return against Phoenix will go on to be known as the starting point for one of the Association’s best comeback stories.
Next: No. 4