The 2014 Draft Combine Numbers Breakdown (Guards)
By Mike Garcia
Dante Exum ended up participating in the athletic testing, along with player measurements. Size-wise, he compares closely to Jamal Crawford. While Crawford was a very light 175lbs. entering the draft, the height, length, and standing measurements are nearly dead-on. There is great flexibility with that size, considering Crawford had elite point guard size coming out of Michigan, but later transferred to shooting guard as his talent matured. Being nearly 6’5″ with a 6’10” wingspan, even around 200lbs., allows for combo-guard like flexibility on both ends of the floor.
The NBA has changed a lot at the guard position. Wingspan and strength are more critical than ever before. Exum has the size to block passing lanes and alter shots, but needs the strength to defend the post.
Athletically, the results are similar to Dwyane Wade. Not only do they match each other with the no-step vertical and max vertical test results, but they also nearly match the agility results. Wade is on another level in terms of 3/4 court speed at 3.06 seconds, but Exum is just 1/10th of a second slower. It’s still great speed for an NBA shooting guard, or a point guard.