Dante Exum and Derrick Jones Jr. have excelled in their first season with the Dallas Mavericks. They were signed late in free agency for depth and have soared into the starting lineup as key contributors to the team’s success. Both players display athleticism, commitment to defense and improved three-point shooting that has complimented Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II.

Exum and Jones have the assignment in defending the opposing team’s best players each game as the best point-of-attack defenders on the roster. Their ability to switch and guard different positions, defend without fouling and making offensive players take difficult shots. On offense, the areas of scoring is very similar as 43 percent of their points are in the paint within five feet of the paint and 44 percent of their shots are from beyond the arc. 

Whether it’s Exum leading fast breaks and dribble drives to the rim or Jones finishing plays at the rim and cuts to the basket, they excite the arena with their energetic plays in the newly integrated up-tempo offense. The Mavs are tied for sixth in pace this season and both wings have been key compenents in that drastic change this season, comparative to the team finishing 28th last season.

The biggest improvement that stands out with Exum and Jones this season is their three-point shooting. The Mavs are second in the NBA for the most three-point shots and their ability to knock down wide-open threes has contributed to them having the best season of their career. Both wings find themselves with a lot of space as 87.1 percent of their attempted threes are wide open (at least six feet from the closest defender). The attention and gravity pull from opposing defenses are often tied to the team’s dynamic playmakers in Dončić and Irving, which leads to open shots for the Mavs role players.

Below is a breakdown on the percentage of wide open threes (at least six feet from the closest defender) for Mavs role players in the 2023-24 season:

• Derrick Jones Jr. 87.8% of 3PA (4.1 three-point attempts per game)
• Dante Exum 85.7% of 3PA (2.1 three-point attempts per game)
• Maxi Kleber 85% of 3PA (2.0 three-point attempts per game)
• Josh Green 70% of 3PA (3.0 three-point attempts per game)
• Grant Williams 65.2% of 3PA (4.6 three-point attempts per game)
• Seth Curry 50% of 3PA (2.2 three-point attempts per game)
• Jaden Hardy 35.9% of 3PA (3.9 three-point attempts per game)
• Tim Hardaway Jr. 30.3% of 3PA (8.9 three-point attempts per game)

Dante Exum

Exum is making a career-high 45.2 percent of his threes on 2.1 attempts per game in his first season with the Dallas Mavericks and drained 53.3 percent of threes on 3.5 attempts in the month of December. The 28-year-old guard suffered a plantar sprain in his foot against the Utah Jazz on January 1st and has missed eight games. He returned to practice on Friday January 19th and participated in all of the non-contact events. Exum is on the track to be activated soon for the Mavericks.

In the first seven seasons in the NBA, Exum made 32 percent of his threes on 2.2 attempts per game. This improvement has raised his value around the league in his second NBA stint, looking to stay this time. He developed his game overseas in the prior two seasons to joining the Mavericks, as injuries held him back. He worked on his consistency and three-point shooting as it prepared him for his opportunity in Dallas. Exum converted a career-high seven three-pointers against Los Angeles Lakers on December 12th.

Exum has averaged 9.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 30 games this season, started in 14 of those games.

Derrick Jones Jr.

Jones has been known as a versatile defender and high-flyer throughout his career. This season, he added three-point shooting in his range of skills. The 26-year-old wing is making a career-high 35.6 percent of his threes on 4.1 attempts in his first season with the Dallas Mavericks and draining 40 percent of threes on 3.1 attempts in the month of January alone. game. In his first seven seasons in the NBA, Jones drained 30.4 percent of his threes on 1.5 attempts per game. The improvement shown by Jones this season has raised his performance as a starter with the Mavs. Jones converted a career-high six three-pointers against OKC Thunder on December 2nd.

Jones has averaged 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 40 games this season, started in 39 of those games.

While both journeys have been different in the NBA, the free agent signings of Exum and Jones have shown how an opportunity from an organization in addition to their hard work has elevated their stature in the NBA during their eighth season in the league. The play of Exum and Jones this season has redefined their career, the Mavericks’ success is dependent on them to sustain their performance as key players for the team. They are playing the most minutes in their career and it is tied to their defense, improvement in hitting wide-open threes and finishing at the rim.

As the schedule gets more difficult for the Mavs in the second half of the season, Exum and Jones will be needed on the court in the Mavs’ quest to move up the standings in the Western Conference.