Vale Cecil Exum

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

The NBL mourns the passing of legend, Cecil Exum, aged 60.

Exum played 197 NBL games from 1989-1996 for the North Melbourne Giants, Melbourne Tigers, and Geelong Supercats.

Exum won a championship in 1989 with the Giants, after defeating the Canberra Cannons in two games. In Game 1 of the series, Exum recorded a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, while he added 10 points and 8 rebounds in Game 2.

He averaged a career-high 17.2 points for the Supercats in 1992 and across his seven-year NBL career, he averaged 10.7 points and 6.9 rebounds.

Exum won an NCAA championship in 1982 with the North Carolina Tar Heels, playing under legendary coach Dean Smith and alongside Michael Jordan and James Worthy.

The Dudley, North Carolina, native was selected by the Denver Nuggets in the 1984 NBA Draft.

After his playing career, Exum remained in Australia and became a valued and beloved member of the basketball community.

Exum is the father of Australian basketball star, Dante Exum. Dante is an Australian Boomer, was drafted with the fifth pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and has reportedly signed with the Dallas Mavericks for the upcoming NBA season.

Everyone at the NBL passes on their sincerest condolences to Dante and the entire Exum family.