Dante Exum

One of the more resilient careers in the league, and a reminder that draft position is only a starting point. The Australian went fifth overall to Utah in 2014 on sky-high athletic promise, but a run of serious injuries, including a torn ACL, kept derailing his momentum. He reinvented himself as a connective combo guard: a long, switchable defender who can steady a second unit, make the simple read, and knock down open threes when healthy. Dallas has been his steadiest chapter, and he re-signed on a one-year veteran's-minimum deal for 2025-26, his third season with the Mavericks and tenth in the NBA. He's backcourt depth and insurance more than a featured option, which is precisely the point, he holds a rotation together while asking for very little.