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Exum available to make season debut Thursday vs. Suns

Gene Sweeney Jr. / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Utah Jazz are getting a reinforcement in the nick of time.

Dante Exum is available to make his season debut Thursday against the Phoenix Suns, the team announced Wednesday.

Exum, 22, has been recovering from surgery after suffering a separated left shoulder during the preseason. The point guard completed the last stage of his rehab by practicing with Utah's G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, over the past two days.

Injuries have derailed the former No. 5 pick's career, with him not only missing the first 68 games this year but also the entire 2015-16 campaign. He averaged 6.2 points, two rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 18.6 minutes over 66 contests last season. Utah could tender a $6.6-million qualifying offer this summer to Exum, who will become a restricted free agent if he turns it down.

The Jazz are in the thick of a dogfight to make the playoffs in the Western Conference, and are currently in a three-way tie and seeded eighth by virtue of tie-breakers. Exum will be a welcome edition as fellow backup point guard Rahul Neto recently suffered a fractured wrist and will be out at least two weeks.

Exum's teammates are happy to have him back in the fold:

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