Dallas Mavs' Luka Doncic & Dante Exum Out for Personal Reasons vs. Memphis Grizzlies
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks are set to face off against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday but will do so without some crucial players, including Luka Doncic.
As Marc Stein of The Stein Line first reported, the Mavs will be without Doncic for Friday's matchup against the Grizzlies due to personal reasons.
On the Mavs' submitted injury report for the 12:30 p.m. EST window, Dante Exum was listed as being out for personal reasons, along with Doncic. The team had already upgraded Olivier-Maxence Prosper (ankle sprain) to available, but Tim Hardaway Jr. (back spasms) is questionable while Maxi Kleber remains out.
Doncic's absence will mark the first time he's missed a game this season. He's averaging 31.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.9 assists in 17 games, remaining among the top candidates for the 2024 NBA MVP amid an 11-6 start to the season, placing the Mavs fourth in the Western Conference standings.
The Mavs have a 3-1 record in games played with Kyrie Irving in the lineup when Doncic is sidelined, with each of those performances occurring last season.
Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic in the 2023-24 NBA season.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Exum has filled an important for the Mavs' bench group after returning to the NBA following a multi-year stint in Europe. He's averaged 4.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 16 games this season. He's been leaned on to push the pace, initiate the offense steadily, attack the paint, and defend with versatility.
With Doncic and Exum sidelined, the Mavs will likely need to rely on a combination of Josh Green, Jaden Hardy, or Seth Curry to play heavier minutes than usual and provide more scoring and playmaking. Dallas turned to Green to fill the starting backcourt role when Irving was injured.
With the Mavs beginning a back-to-back on Friday, it remains to be seen if Doncic or Exum will be available to play Saturday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
