Mavericks guard to make season debut after injury layoff

Mavericks point guard Dante Exum, who has missed the first 48 games of the season while recovering from surgery on his right wrist, will make his season debut on Friday. 

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd confirmed that Exum will be available on Friday to make his season debut, per Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News. Exum will be on a 15-minute limit, according to Kidd.

Despite the limit, there could be a path to an immediate role for the former No. 5 overall pick, given Dallas’ injury woes — Luka Doncic (left calf strain), Dereck Lively (right ankle stress fracture), Dwight Powell (right hip strain), and Maxi Kleber, who underwent surgery this week to repair a right foot fracture, according to a team press release, are all sidelined.

Exum, who returned to the NBA last season after spending two years overseas, was a valuable role player for the Western Conference champions, averaging 7.8 points, 2.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game across 55 appearances (17 starts). He posted a .533/.491/.779 shooting line and was one of the team’s best point-of-attack defenders.

He spoke on Wednesday about the long recovery from his wrist injury, as Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com relays.

“I think it would have been a lot easier if it was my left hand,” Exum said. “But it being my shooting hand and having to get the touch and the shooting form back, obviously, made it a little bit tougher.

“… It was hard for me to see everyone out there playing. And then with the season going on and seeing guys go down and having less and less bodies on particular nights, wishing I could just be out there to help for five or 10 minutes. It’s been tough. But being around the guys and everyone stayed connected. I can’t wait to get back on the court.”