Critics of NBA draftee Dante Exum should "pull their heads out" and give the Australian youngster time to develop, says former first-round pick Andrew Bogut.

Exum has drawn plenty of attention from fans and detractors alike since being selected by the Utah Jazz as the overall fifth pick in June's draft.

Dante Exum at the world championships. Credit:AFP

The World Cup in Spain earlier this month was the 19-year-old's first major outing at senior level – and the first time many US pundits had seen him in action.

Although he played in all of Australia's six games, he averaged just 12 minutes and 2.7 points a game with a shooting rate of 33.33 per cent from the field.