Utah Jazz: Four moments from 2018-19 that we wish were April Fools jokes
Exum injury after injury
If there’s been something more disappointing about the Utah Jazz than the injury-plagued career of Dante Exum, I bet you’d be hard-pressed to find it. The former fifth overall draft pick has long been oozing with potential, but has never come anywhere close to reaching it due to his constant battle with injuries.
Most of those setbacks were widely considered freak accidents. And this season was supposed to be Dante’s year. Unfortunately, the arguments against Exum simply being injury prone are becoming thinner and thinner as the Aussie simply can’t stay on the court.
He suffered a serious ankle sprain earlier in the season that kept him out of action for much longer than originally expected. Then, just three games after returning, Exum suffered a partially torn patellar tendon in his right knee which would ultimately require surgery. Dante is now listed as out indefinitely, and it’s pretty safe to say that we won’t see him again in 2018-19.
The injuries have been beyond frustrating, more so for Dante himself than for anyone, as he’s never had a chance to prove what he can really do. It’s also been frustrating for his Jazz team that invested a hearty sum into him this summer banking on the hope that he would be a contributor this season and postseason as he was against the Houston Rockets in the second round a year ago.
Unfortunately, such won’t be the case whatsoever as Dante will be watching the playoffs from the sidelines in street clothes. Considering his constant struggle with injuries, there’s no denying that having them be followed up with an exclamation of “April Fools!” would be a welcome gesture. Too bad such simply will not be the case.