NBA: Aussie guard Exum set for shoulder op

Dante Exum (#11) of the Utah Jazz scores in front of Dane Pineau (#22) of the Sydney Kings in the first half of their pre-season game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 2, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images/AFP

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Utah Jazz point guard Dante Exum will have surgery next week on his injured left shoulder, the team said Monday, with no timetable set for his NBA return.

The procedure to stabilize the shoulder is set for October 24 — a week after the NBA season tips off on Tuesday.

Exum suffered a separated shoulder and ligament damage in a pre-season game against the Phoenix Suns on October 6.

The 22-year-old Australian was hurt driving to the basket in the first half of Utah’s 112-102 victory.

Exum, selected fifth overall in the 2014 NBA draft, missed the entire 2015-16 season after tearing a ligament in his left knee in August 2015 while playing for Australia’s national team.

Exum averaged 6.2 points, 1.7 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 66 games last season. The Jazz went 51-31 and were swept by eventual champion Golden State in the second round of the playoffs.

© Agence France-Presse