It might feel like three lifetimes ago, but it’s only been three years (and, like, eight different injuries) since Dante Exum — aka Kangaroo Kobe — was a rookie for the Utah Jazz running the San Antonio Spurs ragged even in the face of some strident Anti-Strayan Bias.
Sure, since the Seabrook Sensation last played an NBA game he’s now the top-ranked player worldwide in ‘Call of Duty WW2’, but it worth remembering that Kangaroo Kobe is also a handy basketball player! And back in 2015, Son of Cecil was just hitting his stride.
Like his Geelong Supercats NBL star pops, Dante’s Peak was out there dropping fools like he does Zombie Nazis in ‘Black Ops’, and in only his 14th NBA start EVER, Dante joined a bigger All-Aussie block party than Homebake ‘08, as he and Joe Ingles went up against fellow Aussie ledges, Bangers Aron Baynes and Official: Patty Mills.
The problem was, ALL the bloody Aussies were CLEARLY stymied by the mongrel refs and their Anti-Strayan bias! Kangaroo Kobe and Jingles were called for four ABSOLUTE rubbish fouls each, Patty barely saw the court, and Bangers managed only 2-of-8 shooting he was getting hacked so much! The refs called the game like they were bloody Hayden Kennedy and Dante and the ‘Strayans were the Essendon Football Club!
Still, that day we got the answer as to what happens when the unstoppable force meets the immovable object, as Dante’s Peak turned Patty Thrills into Patty Spills, while Patty tried to summit Dante’s Peak with a hefty dosage of Deez Nuts. In his limited court time — those 4 rubbish fouls meant he only played 20 mins — Dante ended up with a line of 5 points (going 2-of-3 though), 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 rebound…. while the Pride of Tarneit’s Thomas Carr College held Thrills to only 4 points and a single steal. Ouch.
It’s worth remembering that before being derailed by injuries Dante’s Peak was on his way to living up to the legacy left by his old man, Cecil, who pulled ‘em on next to the GOAT Michael Jordan and Big Game James Worthy for the North Carolina Tar Heels 1982 national championship team. Cecil then went on to dominate the NBL for the Melbourne Tigers, North Melbourne Giants and the Supercats… So here’s hoping Dante gets back ASAP and smashes like Cecil back in Geetroit!
#ONYA DANTE!
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