Meet Australia’s next global superstar, basketball phenomenon Dante Exum

DANTE Exum is hot property — 18 years old and already worth millions. Over the next month or so you’ll be hearing a lot about this East Melbourne kid.

BASKETBALL pundits across America are weighing in on the talents of Dante Exum right now.

With the clock ticking down to the June 27 (AEST) NBA Draft, the Australian teenager is a hot topic.

Adidas signed the 18-year-old to a multi-million dollar deal last month in anticipation of the East Melbourne kid becoming one of the sport’s biggest names — and, indeed, one of sport’s biggest names.

To put it into perspective, this year’s NBA Draft class has been touted as one of the best in years and Exum — a 1.98m (6ft 6in) guard — is expected to be selected in the top five.

Another exceptional teenage talent, 19-year-old Canadian Andrew Wiggins, has been labelled the best since LeBron James. He is rated the top prospect for 2014, but the jury is out on whether Exum would be a better selection.

Dante Exum has landed a multi-million dollar deal with Adidas.

“While Exum isn’t quite as long and athletic, he’s far more skilled,” wrote Jonathan Tjarks on RealGM.com, comparing him with Wiggins.

“He’s an elite athlete in his own right and he plays with more poise than Wiggins, despite being six months younger.

“Forget which one has the better highlight tape and who is getting more publicity — passing up Exum to take Wiggins could be a mistake.”

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Sports Illustrated’s Peter Bukowski added: “With big-time scoring ability, NBA teams see him as a potential All-Star and sure-fire lottery pick.

“He has already proven himself against elite young talent from around the world, both on the Australian National team and at exhibitions like the Hoops Summit in Portland.”

SB Nation, meanwhile, declared Exum “the best NBA prospect you probably don’t know”.

Exum’s father Cecil was drafted by the NBA’s Denver Nuggets in the famed 1984 Draft, which featured Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon (No. 1 pick), Michael Jordan (No. 3), Charles Barkley (No. 5) and John Stockton (No. 16).

Cecil Exum played college basketball with Jordan and was selected in the ninth round (194th overall) but made his name in Australia, playing with the North Melbourne Giants, Melbourne Tigers and Geelong Supercats — so Dante was raised in Melbourne.

Dante Exum went through the Australian Institute of Sport, the same program that developed NBA stars Luc Longley, Andrew Bogut and Patrick Mills, as well as the WNBA’s Lauren Jackson.

He is now set to enter the draft without having honed his game in college, similarly to LeBron who was selected No. 1 by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 straight out of high school.

Exum, who has caught the attention of scouts with his lightning speed, says he models his game on Chicago Bulls superstar guard Derrick Rose.

“I’m a big point guard who likes to get to the basket a lot and kick out to open shooters or open big men and create for others,” Exum said.

“I’ve been watching Rose for a while. He’s that type of player who likes to break down his opponent, get to the rim and finish over the big men and also create for others.

“That’s one part of his game that is similar to mine and I want to improve my game to be like his.”

Exum has also signed a lucrative trading card deal with Panini, the NBA’s sole trading-card licensee.

While the details of Exum’s deals have not been disclosed, Adidas and Nike have reportedly been battling to sign Wiggins to a multi-year deal worth $A193 million.

Dante Exum in action for Australia.